Japanese kickboxing superstar Takeru Segawa will make his highly anticipated return to the ring at ONE Friday Fights 81 on September 27. “The Natural Born Crusher” hopes to erase the memories from his unanimous decision defeat on debut this past January when he faces hometown hero Black Panther in a flyweight kickboxing contest at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
After Takeru’s left leg absorbed numerous leg kicks from Superlek Kiatmoo9 in what was an enthralling battle in Tokyo, Japan, the multiple-time K-1 Champion indicated to his Instagram following of more than 800,000 that he was ready to get back to action.
It’s a huge opportunity for the surging Black Panther, who is riding a three-fight win streak. The 31- year-old is fresh from a head-kick knockout win over Ali Saldoev in July. However, Takeru won’t be the only man representing “the land of the rising sun” on September 27.
Former World Champions Hiroki Akimoto and Ilias Ennahachi to clash
Hiroki Akimoto has also been added to the ONE Friday Fights 81 bill. The former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion will take on another former World Champion, Ilias Ennahachi. Akimoto was most recently in action against K-1 legend and ONE newcomer Wei Rui this past May.
After a pulsating three-round contest, however, it was Wei who saw his hand raised in a razor-thin unanimous decision call.
That came after Akimoto lost his bantamweight kickboxing crown in another heartbreakingly close split-decision loss to Petchtanong Petchfergus a few years back.
To remain at the pointy end of the divisional rankings, the Japanese star will have to turn away another fighter who is hungry to regain a 26-pound gold belt. Ennahachi vacated his ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title due to his struggles making the 135- pound limit in 2023.
He made a successful debut in the bantamweight kickboxing division later that year, when he knocked out Iran’s Aliasghar Ghodratisaraskan in the second round. A win over Akimito, however, would thrust the Moroccan star straight into the Jonathan Haggerty sweepstakes as fighters across the globe line up to face the two-sport ONE Bantamweight World Champion.