Rodtang Jitmuangnon meets Jacob Smith for a second time at ONE 169 and, knowing that he’s up against a more motivated fighter, the Thai has been steadily sharpening his weapons at Jitmuangnon Gym.
The pair meet on Saturday, November 9, at Lumpinee Stadium for Rodtang’s ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title.
In the past, the 27-year-old from Phatthalung, Thailand has been criticized for not training hard enough and coming into his fights overweight. But this time it appears he is on target.
After all, if he fails to make the flyweight limit, ONE Championship will strip him of his belt. Then, only Smith will be eligible to win the title or a $50,000 bonus, should one be given out.
Rodtang Jitmuangnon Up Against “Durable” Jacob Smith
Next weekend, when Rodtang Jitmuangnon enters the Lumpinee Stadium ring, he’ll be standing opposite of a familiar man.
Both him and Jacob Smith first fought in the quarterfinals of the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix in May 2022, where Rodtang eked out a unanimous decision win.
Although Smith is hungry for redemption, Rodtang predicts that he’ll be up against the same fighter.
“He’s still the same in terms of his style. It’s like his engine is slow to heat up. He thinks and acts a bit slow. The best weapon for Jacob is his durability. His durability makes him a hard opponent for everyone. I think my speed will give me an advantage over him. In our first fight, I fought him with my speed and agility,” Rodtang said.
That said, the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion isn’t looking past Smith’s abilities, especially the Englishman’s grit and determination.
“I will do my best to knock him out. I wanted to knock him out because I wanted the bonus. But I can’t underestimate my opponent because Jacob Smith is tough and durable. With his strong physique, I can’t underestimate him,” Rodtang said.
Tickets for ONE 169 are available at Thai Ticket Major.
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