Hyu, Naito To Settle Business At ONE Samurai 1 In Tokyo
The war of words is over. The fight is on.
Undefeated Japanese sensation Hyu will face fellow countryman Taiki “Silent Sniper” Naito in a flyweight kickboxing showdown at ONE Samurai 1, live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Wednesday, April 29. It’s part of ONE Championship’s inaugural Japan-based event series.
The matchup has a sharp edge to it. After dismantling Suablack Tor Pran49 with three knockdowns en route to a first-round TKO at ONE Fight Night 41, Hyu turned his attention to Naito on social media, issuing a blunt prediction:
“If you fight me, you will be knocked out.”
Naito accepted, hit back with his own confidence, and the promotion made it official.
The 23-year-old Hyu arrives in Tokyo on the form of his career. The Team Mehdi Zatout and TEAM3K standout is 13-0 with four consecutive finishes inside ONE Championship and has now collected two separate US$50,000 performance bonuses from the promotion.
The first time he stopped previously undefeated Jordan Estupinan in the third round at ONE Fight Night 35, and the second time he demolished Suablack. He has openly targeted both Rodtang Jitmuangnon and ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek as future opponents, but first there is unfinished business with a man who believes the hype has outpaced the resume.
Naito, 30, is not wrong to question it. The Bell Wood Fight Team representative is one of Japan’s most technically refined strikers. He’s a composed, calculated counter-puncher who does not get drawn into firefights he cannot win. He arrives on a two-fight winning streak, having handed Johan Estupinan his first career loss at ONE Fight Night 32 and followed it up with a sharp first-round stoppage of Nakrob Fairtex at ONE Fight Night 37.
Where Hyu overwhelms opponents with speed, creativity, and the ability to finish from unexpected angles, Naito offers precision and the cold-blooded patience to punish mistakes. The styles are a genuine clash, and with both men carrying momentum and national pride into Ariake Arena, the result is far from certain.
Hyu made his prediction. Naito has other ideas. Tokyo will decide.
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