ONE Championship: Chatri says Superlek ‘botched’ shot at glory in ‘cursed’ grand prix with scale fail
- Superlek and his opponent Panpayak became ineligible to win flyweight Muay Thai tournament after missing weight in Manila
- ‘I’m definitely disappointed in both of them,’ says ONE chairman and CEO Chatri, while Superlek took chance to apologise after win
Had things unfolded just a little bit differently, Superlek Kiatmoo9 could be the proud owner of a ONE Championship grand prix title belt, and the next man in a line for the promotion’s flyweight Muay Thai champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
Superlek, 27, made his latest trip to the Circle in the co-main event of Saturday night’s ONE 164 event in Manila, Philippines, taking on his fellow Thai Panpayak Jitmuangnon.
The fight was intended to serve as the final of ONE’s flyweight Muay Thai grand prix, but when both fighters missed weight, they became ineligible to win the tournament title.
It was a disappointing twist for anyone with interest in the match-up – including ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
“I did not expected Panpayak and Superlek to miss weight,” he said. “That was a shock.”
“I’m definitely disappointed in both of them. I mean the stakes are so high,” he added. “Both of them botched.”
Superlek, for his part, clearly recognised he had made a mistake – though he did not offer an explanation as to why his weight was not in check.