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Lasiri should have ‘stood up and rumbled with me’, says Rodtang
Rodtang Jitmuangnon has done it again.
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Rodtang Jitmuangnon
Rodtang Jitmuangnon has done it again.
The Thai superstar brought his ONE Championship Muay Thai and kickboxing record to a perfect 12-0 in straight wins, following his dominant performance against Moroccan-Italian ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Joseph Lasiri on Saturday.
“The Iron Man” defended his ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship for the fourth time in brilliant fashion during ONE Fight Night 4: Abbasov vs. Lee on Nov. 19 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The 25-year-old dominated "The Hurricane” and left the arena unimpressed with the abilities of his fellow world champion. Despite Lasiri's endurance through the match, Rodtang believed his foe could’ve done more.
“[For] his running skills, I give him a 10. For his talking skills, I give him a 10 as well. But for his fighting skills, [...] maybe minus points,” Rodtang said.
“He [lasted] five rounds because he's a great runner. He should have stood up and then [fought] with me instead of running. That's why he could last until the fifth round.”
The two Muay Thai fighters exchanged plenty of words prior to their meeting in the Circle, with Lasiri saying he planned to make his flyweight opponent angry during their bout and quit.
Unfortunately for the Moroccan-Italian, none of that came to pass, and “The Iron Man” won unanimously.
The victory marks Rodtang’s 269th win in a professional career spanning more than 300 fights. In addition to being a five-time ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, the fighter from Jitmuangnon Gym now holds the longest winning streak in ONE Championship.
While his performances speak volumes, Rodtang fights for a purpose greater than simply silencing his opponents.
“I can say that my ultimate goal is the happiness of my family. Fighting is my career. I have been doing it, and in every fight I give my best. Every fight is the best fight that I have gone through,” Rodtang said.
“I don't know if [my career can be] called successful right now, but I'm happy to see that my family is happy. My ultimate goal is my family, to see everybody happy, not struggling financially and everything. This is what makes me happy now, and I consider this a success.”
Up next: Don’t miss ONE Fight Night 5: De Ridder vs. Malykhin on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. Tickets can be purchased at SM Tickets.
This article was published in collaboration with ONE Championship.
