ONE X: Hiroki Akimoto steals the show in Singapore with thrilling win over Capitan to claim kickboxing title
- Japan’s Akimoto produces a memorable display to defeat Thailand’s Capitan and win US$50,000 performance bonus
- Muay Thai champ Nong-O Gaiyanghadao and kick-boxing king Superbon also win as Super Series shines at ONE Championship’s 10th anniversary spectacular
ONE Championship’s 10th anniversary spectacular in Singapore featured a rousing collection of striking-only Super Series bouts on Saturday, including a title victory from kick-boxer Hiroki Akimoto that drove the Singapore Indoor Stadium into a frenzy of excitement as fans returned en masse for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Japan’s Akimoto, a karate specialist, challenged Thailand’s Capitan Petchyindee for the ONE bantamweight kick-boxing title during the second portion of the 20-fight ONE X broadcast.
The Japanese star unleashed a cartoonishly violent assault from bell-to-bell for a clear-cut unanimous decision win. Capitan lost a point after receiving three yellow cards for excessive clinching, but by that point, it did not matter. Akimoto was already miles ahead on the scorecards.
“My coach told me every day I would be champion,” the new champ said in his post-fight interview with commentator Mitch Chilson. “This is the day. This is the fruit of my training.”
Akimoto will return to Evolve MMA in Singapore with a new belt, a US$50,000 bonus in the bank, and like any champion, a target on his back.
Soon after Akimoto’s dazzling victory over Capitan, bantamweight Muay Thai champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao took to the ONE Circle to defend his title against short-notice replacement opponent Felipe Lobo.
Nong-O fared much better than his countryman Capitan, deflating his Brazilian challenger with a rocket-fuelled right uppercut in round three.