Ryujin Nasukawa Steps Out From His Brother’s Shadow At The Inner Circle 23
Being the younger brother of a 42-0 legend comes with an obvious problem. Ryujin Nasukawa has decided the solution is simply to become a legend of his own.
The 20-year-old makes his highly anticipated promotional debut against Thongpoon PK Saenchai in a strawweight kickboxing showdown at The Inner Circle 23 on Friday, July 24, streaming live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
His older brother Tenshin retired from kickboxing with a flawless record that made him one of Japan’s greatest strikers. That shadow only grew heavier this past April, when fellow Japanese icon Takeru Segawa retired at ONE SAMURAI 1 after claiming interim flyweight kickboxing gold.
“I was glad to see Takeru finally get rewarded for everything he has done. Tenshin and Takeru were the two leading figures who carried an era of kickboxing.”
Watching that chapter close only sharpened his belief that the torch is now his to carry, on his own terms rather than as an echo of what came before.
“The era of kickboxing built by Tenshin and Takeru has come to an end, and I believe I am the one who will lead the next era. Unlike Tenshin, I think my style is more about taking the initiative and moving forward.”
A two-division RISE Champion with an 18-3 record, Ryujin is eager to bounce back from a defeat this past June that snapped a 14-fight winning streak. Several of his Team TEPPEN stablemates have already tasted success in ONE Championship, including 21-year-old Ranma, who carries a 3-0 promotional run, and 24-year-old Yuto Hirayama, who scored a knockout in his own debut at The Inner Circle 16 this past May.
He has no interest in leaving his promotional bow in the judges’ hands.
“I would want to go for the knockout to show why I am at the center of kickboxing. That is the kind of performance I want to deliver in my debut.”
He sees the frequency of ONE Championship’s weekly cards as the ideal launchpad for the run he has planned.
“We have a large number of professional fighters, and because ONE Friday Fights and The Inner Circle are held every Friday, it has greatly increased the number of opportunities available. It is a great platform for fighters to gain valuable experience and compete.”
READ MORE: Tawanchai Explains Why He Chose To Let Go Of His Featherweight Throne
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