Black Panther And Diego Paez Finally Get Fight Night Reckoning
Diego Paez found out his fight was off while getting his hands wrapped. His coach broke the news, and Paez thought it was a joke. It was not. Black Panther had fallen ill on the morning of ONE Fight Night 40, and two months of preparation between them had been wiped out in a matter of minutes.
That moment has been sitting with both men ever since. Now they get their resolution.
The flyweight Muay Thai showdown, rescheduled from February’s collapse, finally takes place at ONE Fight Night 42: Mann vs. Dzhabrailov on Prime Video this Friday, April 10, live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Paez recalled the gut punch of that night with characteristic composure.
“I found out while getting my hands wrapped,” Paez said. “My coach told me, and I honestly thought he was joking. At this level, it felt surreal. My [initial] reaction was disbelief. It was tough. But I stayed professional and grateful for the promotion taking care of me.”
For Black Panther, the decision to withdraw came down to two stark choices. He had passed weight and hydration without issue, and showed no warning signs throughout camp. Then, on the morning of the fight, illness struck just as he was heading to the venue.
“We only had a few minutes before the walkouts. At that point, there were two choices: fight or don’t fight. If I chose to fight, I wouldn’t be allowed to drink any water, which would have been brutal on my body,” he said.
ONE Championship moved quickly. Within weeks, the rematch was confirmed, and neither man had to chase it. The Pattaya native returned to Team Mehdi Zatout, tightened his game plan, and studied his opponent closely. He arrives at Friday with a four-bout winning streak intact and a clear read on what Paez brings.
Paez, meanwhile, has drawn from a deeper well. His son Elias was in Bangkok in February and witnessed the fight week disintegrate first-hand. That image has fuelled every session since, and Elias will be ringside again on Friday. The Colombian-American made his intentions plain.
“The extra time favors me. I was ready then, and I’m even sharper now. I’ve never felt more prepared in my life. I expect to finish this fight. I’m committed to the game plan, and I’m extra motivated after what happened. My son saw that low moment, and I’m ready to turn it into a win,” he said.
Black Panther’s closing message to his opponent carries its own quiet confidence. This time he intends on showing Paez why he is one of the most dangerous men in the division.
“I want to make him realize how strong my Muay Thai really is. Thai people are second to none in Muay Thai. Get ready because I’m coming to prove that in the ring,” he said.
Paez, as ever, kept his reply short, sharp, and laced with intent. After all, he missed the chance to prove to his fans back in the United Stated that, whether his opponent is Thai not, the results will remain the same. He just hopes he gets a chance to prove it this time.
“To Black Panther: I’ll see you soon,” he said. “I hope to see you in the ring this time.”
READ MORE: Barry McGuigan Raises Concerns Over Deontay Wilder’s Form After Chisora Fight
Recent posts
