WATCH: Japanese kickboxing legend Takeru Segawa perfectly owns the spotlight with his two personas

Japanese megastar Takeru Segawa is one of the biggest names to join ONE Championship in recent years.

While his kickboxing success made him an international star, it is his forays outside of the ring that have elevated him to a cultural icon, which includes being the face of a fashion brand in Japan.

Additionally, Takeru visited Vietnam in July 2023 to fulfill one of his early responsibilities as the 7th Generation Tiger Mask, further showcasing his tremendous star power.

Check out the two sides to Takeru below as shared by ONE on Instagram.

Takeru won the support of many fans in his ONE debut this past January despite falling short in his bid to dethrone Superlek Kiatmoo9 for the ONE flyweight kickboxing world championship.

The second-ranked flyweight kickboxing fighter later revealed that he had suffered a thigh injury following Superlek's barrage to his lead leg in their five-round war.

After taking the last few months to heal, Takeru will return to action at ONE Friday Fights 81 on September 27 as he takes on hard-hitting Thai star Black Panther in a flyweight kickboxing bout.

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Takeru Segawa elated to fight so soon after 33rd birthday

Takeru Segawa celebrated his 33rd birthday last month and is confident that his maiden ONE Championship win will come inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

He wrote in the caption of a recent Instagram post:

"I became 33 years old! Thanks for many birthday wishes! Right now, it's the climax of my time as a martial artist. The fight on 27 Sep is the first. I will definitely win and survive. Please keep supporting me this year as well."

ONE Friday Fights 81 is available live on pay-per-view at watch.onefc.com.