“I got to prove to myself that I am better” - Tawanchai admits using past criticism as fuel to knockout Superbon 

Tawanchai PK Saenchai never forgot the unfair criticism he took in the aftermath of his first meeting with fellow world champion Superbon.

However, instead of letting the harsh words get to him, the undisputed featherweight Muay Thai world champion used it as motivation to send a resounding message in their epic rematch at ONE 170 last Jan. 24.

Tawanchai first bested his compatriot at ONE Friday Fights 46 in 2023 via a majority decision. It was a highly competitive back-and-forth contest that could have gone either way.

Some fans of Superbon even chastised the 25-year-old after that match, which deeply hurt him. The PK Saenchai megastar admitted this in his ONE 170 post-fight interview with Mitch Chilson.

"The last time, I remember after we finished that fight, I went back, and I was under a lot of pressure from online [critics], and I didn't talk to anyone for weeks, and it's safe to say that I lost my fire back then when I finished that fight."

As all great champions do, Tawanchai simply tuned out the noise and let his actions do the talking in their do-over.

Tawanchai made sure the judges weren't needed this time, sending the entire Impact Arena into a state of pandemonium with a stunning second-round knockout over Superbon. He added:

"But then I thought to myself, these are just words. I only have to do better. I have to train harder, and now this time, I got to prove to myself that I am better."

Tawanchai calls for trilogy with Superbon for featherweight kickboxing gold

Apart from getting his swagger back, Tawanchai was fittingly rewarded for his destruction of Superbon by being one of four recipients of a massive $50,000 bonus bounty at ONE 170.

"It's been a while since I earned that bonus. Now my dream is complete. My next dream is to get that kickboxing belt on my other shoulder," he told Mitch Chilson in in-Circle interview.

After that sensational knockout win, Tawanchai is already 2-0 against Superbon which puts a possible trilogy in question.

Then again, the undisputed best 155-pound striker in the world certainly deserves a shot at two-sport glory after such a remarkable title defense.

Catch the full replay of ONE 170 via watch.onefc.com. Watch the full ONE 170 post-event presser, here: