Superbon Sizes Up The Four Men Chasing His Throne
Superbon has shared the ring with both men who could soon come calling for his belt, and that history has not made picking a winner any easier.
The ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion watches the semifinals of the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament unfold at ONE SAMURAI 4, live from Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on Saturday, October 17, where Armenian legend Marat Grigorian faces China’s Luo Chao and Japan’s Masaaki Noiri battles Iranian knockout artist Mohammad Siasarani.
The Thai has fought Grigorian three times, dating back to a 29-second knockout loss in a Chinese event back in February 2018. Superbon answered with consecutive unanimous decision wins at ONE X in March 2022 and ONE Friday Fights 58 in April 2024, evening their historic rivalry.
He also holds a win over Noiri, a unanimous decision in their unification bout at ONE 173 this past November, a fight that pushed both men to their limits.
“I think Marat takes his match. The other semifinal is a tough one to call – it’s pure 50-50. But if I had to pick, fighting on home turf gives Noiri a slight edge to pull off the win,” Superbon said. “So, if I really have to choose, I’d say Marat and Noiri. Though honestly, that Noiri versus Siasarani matchup is super close.”
Grigorian brings a four-bout winning streak into his semifinal, while Luo enters on three straight wins of his own after outpointing Kosuke Takagi to reach the final four. Noiri, meanwhile, avenged a previous loss to Liu Mengyang with a first-round knockout at ONE SAMURAI 2 in August, and Siasarani remains unbeaten in ONE kickboxing after finishing Kaito Ono in similarly emphatic fashion.
Whoever emerges from either bracket earns a shot at Superbon’s crown, but the champion insists he holds no preference for which familiar face shows up next.
“I’m fine with either of them, it doesn’t really matter. I’ve already fought both, so whoever comes through – Marat or Noiri – is fine by me. I just want to get back in the ring and fight, honestly.”
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