ONE Championship: Superlek to vacate flyweight kickboxing title as he vows to return

Superlek Kiatmoo9 is set to officially announce that he is vacating his ONE Championship flyweight kickboxing world title, the Bangkok Post understands.

The announcement is expected on Thursday evening, as the Thai star continues his recovery from knee surgery that scuppered an October title defence against Jonathan Di Bella.

Superlek, 30, had signalled his intention in a string of social media posts late on Wednesday night, bidding farewell to the belt while making clear he intended to fight again.

“The belt I’ve held for so very long – I suppose we now have to officially part ways,” he wrote in Thai.

“Thank you for being by my side all these years.”

Abdulla Dayakaev consoles Superlek after their rematch ended because of the Thai fighter’s knee injury at The Inner Circle 25

The messages went further than his earlier cryptic Facebook post on Tuesday about letting go, which had prompted speculation among Thai fans and media over his championship future.

In a separate passage, Superlek addressed his own body, thanking it for carrying him through decades of fighting and explaining that he needed time to look after it.

“From now on, let me take care of my body first, and then we’ll come back and fight again, my lifelong friend,” he wrote.

Relinquishing the title would bring to an end a reign that began with his victory over Daniel Puertas for the vacant championship in January 2023. Superlek defended the belt against Danial Williams later that year and Takeru Segawa in Tokyo in January 2024.

The Takeru victory remains his most recent defence. He went on to knock out Jonathan Haggerty in just 49 seconds at ONE 168 in Denver in September 2024, adding the bantamweight Muay Thai belt to become a two-sport, two-division champion.

Superlek celebrates his first successful title defence – a knockout victory over Danial Williams – from the top of the ONE Championship cage in Singapore

That was his 11th straight win in ONE – and remains his last.

Four consecutive defeats have followed: against Nabil Anane in Muay Thai, Yuki Yoza in kickboxing and Abdulla Dayakaev twice.

Superlek had already lost the bantamweight belt on the scales before his March 2025 rematch with Anane. Relinquishing his kickboxing crown would now leave him without either title, a sharp reversal in fortunes from his triumph in Denver.

The proposed return to 135lb against reigning strawweight kickboxing champion Di Bella at ONE Samurai 4 on October 17 had offered a chance to re-establish himself in the weight class where he had enjoyed sustained success.

But the champion-versus-champion fight was announced just one day before Superlek suffered the injury that would derail it.

Superlek tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during his bantamweight Muay Thai rematch with Dayakaev at The Inner Circle 25 on August 7.

Superlek poses with his flyweight kickboxing and bantamweight Muay Thai belts after becoming a two-sport ONE Championship titleholder in Denver

His leg buckled without contact 39 seconds into the second round at Lumpinee Stadium, leaving him unable to continue and handing Dayakaev a TKO victory.

Superlek subsequently underwent surgery, with ONE boss Chatri Sityodtong warning at the time that his rehabilitation could extend well into next year.

“He’s probably not going to be back for another six to 10 months, depending on his rehabilitation and everything else,” Chatri told the Bangkok Post in August.

Di Bella had been preparing to move up from strawweight in pursuit of a second world title after defending his own belt against Zhang Peimian in July.

Chatri said in August that ONE was seeking a replacement opponent to keep the Italian-Canadian on the Tokyo card, although he did not clarify whether another bout would involve a version of the flyweight title.

Rather than simply waiting for Superlek to defend again, the kickboxing division would be left needing a new undisputed champion.

Panpayak Jitmuangnon had been discussing an interim opportunity ahead of Friday’s meeting with Lamnamoonlek Torfunfarm at The Inner Circle 32. Japan’s Taiki Naito, who has signed a contract for his next bout, has also made his interest in a title fight clear, including a possible meeting with Di Bella.

Superlek has his hand raised after beating Rodtang by unanimous decision in their 140lb catchweight bout at ONE Friday Fights 34

There is a recent precedent for an injured champion stepping aside, with Nico Carrillo elevated when Tawanchai PK Saenchai vacated the featherweight Muay Thai title in July. Flyweight kickboxing’s interim titleholder Takeru, however, retired after winning the belt against Rodtang Jitmuangnon in April.

Superlek’s injury also leaves him on the sidelines as ONE prepares to launch its eight-man flyweight Muay Thai world grand prix in November.

Rodtang, Nong-O Hama and reigning champion Asadula Imangazaliev are among the entrants announced on Tuesday. Superlek is not in the field, but his record would have made him a credible candidate had he been fit and able to return to 135lb.

He won all 10 of his ONE Muay Thai bouts before moving up to bantamweight, although that run included catchweight contests.

His most high-profile win in that streak came against Rodtang at ONE Friday Fights 34 in September 2023, but a 5lb weight miss cost him the chance to take the then-champion’s title.

What had been scheduled as a five-round flyweight title fight instead became a three-round non-title contest at 140lb, which Superlek won by unanimous decision.

For now, the immediate questions are when Superlek can return and at what weight. His latest farewell still left room for another championship pursuit.

“If I get the chance, I’ll definitely come back for you,” he wrote of the flyweight kickboxing belt.