Many Thai strikers’ lives have been improved by ONE Championship and its weekly Friday Fights series, and Kongthoranee Sor Sommai is among them.
The 27-year-old has risen through the ranks inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, and he earned a lucrative US$100,000 contract after eight wins in nine promotional outings.
At ONE Friday Fights 68: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella on 28th June, Kongthoranee has the biggest fight of his life. He takes on flyweight kickboxing king Superlek Kiatmoo9 in Muay Thai action in the Thai capital.
Kongthoranee on Flyweight Gold
It’s a dream scenario for the two-time Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai Champion, who was barely managing to get by in his career during the pandemic.
“After COVID, ONE Championship changed my life,” Kongthoranee said.
“It’s overwhelming – from a country boy who became an athlete for a world-class sports organization.”
Most Muay Thai practitioners would classify reaching ONE Championship’s main roster as a sign of ultimate success. But not Kongthoranee.
The Thai striker still feels he has a ways to go, and beating Superlek would be a noteworthy step on that road.
It’ll be a difficult ask for Kongthoranee to overcome “The Kicking Machine,” who is on a nine-fight winning streak having beaten stars in Takeru Segawa, Nabil Anane and ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
Fight Night at One Friday Fights 68
But the 27-year-old knows what he wants and will do everything in his power to get there against his compatriot at ONE Friday Fights 68.
“I still don’t think I’m successful yet. It’s only the beginning for me. I still have a long way to go,” Kongthoranee admitted.
“Every fighter wants to become a ONE World Champion, and I’m one of them, too.”
