"I want to win by KO" - Takeru says he'll gladly enter the line of fire against Lethwei specialist Thant Zin

Kickboxing superstar Takeru Segawa is willing to put his career and reputation on the line just to capture a decisive finish against ONE up-and-comer Thant Zin this week.

'The Natural Born Crusher' is dead-set on getting his first promotional win at whatever the cost. His last fight against Superlek ended on a bitter note after falling short to the current double-world champion by a close margin.

Now, with a clean bill of health, he's fired up about making a memorable impression against an exciting KO artist like Thant Zin.

Sharing his thoughts about his newest opponent, Segawa told ONE:

"He's a young fighter, so he'll have momentum. I'll be careful of that while sticking to my own fighting style. Since he's an aggressive type, I want to win by KO."

The last few weeks for Segawa got a little bit challenging when his original opponent, Black Panther, withdrew from the bout at a month's notice. Although last-minute replacements aren't a novelty, adjusting to a new opponent is always tricky to plan for.

But, despite the line-up change, Segawa keeps his spirits up because the goal remains the same - to keep winning until a fight with Rodtang or a rematch with Superlek is arranged.

ONE Friday Fights 81 will air live in Asian primetime via watch.onefc.com.

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"Focus until the end" - Takeru Segawa is 100% confident he'll bring home the win for his Japanese fans

Takeru Segawa is 100 percent invested in his next fight at ONE Friday Fights 81.

Even with Zhant Zin boasting a two-fight win streak, Segawa is confident that his chin will hold as long as he plays his cards right.

The former K-1 world champion is an unstoppable force, so he'll use the most favorable positions and attacks to demoralize his Chinese rival. Segawa's experience also gives him an advantage, which means he won't easily succumb to the pressure when adversity strikes.

This week, after wrapping up his training session, Segawa showed that there is no time for fun and games.

"Pushing done today. With the body that endured till the end without breaking. Thanks to all the support. Now to lose weight and final touches. Focus until the end."