- Superbon vs Noiri: ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title unification fight is ONE 173 main event
- ONE 173 will happen inside the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on November 16, 2025
- Local hero Noiri is the interim titleholder, while Thai Superbon is the reigning divisional champion
Some of the greatest stories in sports are authored by those who rise to the occasion after suffering heartbreaking setbacks. Such is Masaaki Noiri’s challenging journey to World Title glory in ONE Championship.
Since joining the world’s largest martial arts organization, the Japanese striking ace has endured crushing defeats, faced elite opposition, and shouldered the pressure that comes with being a two-division K-1 Champion.
Each defeat could have been the end of his climb, but Noiri refused to give up on his dreams.
Before he enters Ariake Arena in Tokyo to claim a potentially career-defining moment, here’s how Noiri’s journey through adversity has led him to the brink of undisputed glory.
Devastating Debut Against A Beloved Icon
Noiri’s first foray into ONE in June 2024 came with a wave of anticipation.
A proven force in Japan, he came to Bangkok’s bustling Impact Arena at ONE 167 brimming with confidence and expected to make an immediate impact in the featherweight kickboxing ranks. Instead, he met “Killer Kid” Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong – a seasoned Thai veteran who turned their fight into a striking clinic.
From the start of the contest, Sitthichai dictated the fight with crisp boxing, sharp uppercuts, and punishing knees. Noiri’s powerful right hand landed in flashes, but opportunities were few as the Thai master controlled the distance and pace.
For three rounds, Noiri searched for the shot that could change the fight. It never came.
Sitthichai stayed composed, outscoring the promotional debutant to notch a clear-cut unanimous decision.
However, the loss was more than just a blemish on Noiri’s record – it was a jarring reminder that the road to the top in ONE would be unlike any challenge he had faced before.
Another Shocking Setback Against A Newcomer
If his ONE debut served as a lesson, Noiri’s second fight with the promotion was a shock to the system.
Paired against China’s Liu Mengyang at ONE Friday Fights 92, Noiri found himself on the canvas less than a minute into the bout after a looping right cross caught him flush.
Noiri rose to his feet and tried to impose his game, working Liu’s body and closing the gap. But the Chinese fighter’s uppercuts and push kicks blunted his momentum at every turn, keeping him from mounting a sustained offense.
Even when the Japanese standout found the openings he wanted in several heated exchanges, Liu matched him strike for strike, denying him the chance to seize control.
The decision was unanimous once again – a second straight defeat in ONE, and the kind of result that could have broken a lesser fighter’s spirit.
For Noiri, however, it turned into fuel for his comeback.
The Start Of His Rise
With his back against the wall, Noiri returned against Shakir Al-Tekreeti at ONE 170 this past January knowing that only a decisive win would allow him to restart his ascent to the upper echelon.
The opening round was competitive, but Noiri began to impose his will with punishing low kicks that visibly slowed his opponent. By the end of the frame, his Iraqi foe had already been given a mandatory count.
In the second round, Noiri wasted no time. Another thudding kick to the same target ended the contest just 14 seconds in. Al-Tekreeti couldn’t beat the count, and Noiri had finally notched his first win in ONE – and his 26th career finish overall.
It wasn’t just a victory. It was a statement that his precision, composure, and finishing instincts were still very much intact.
The Crowning Moment
That triumph set the stage for Noiri’s biggest test yet, a shot at the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Title against divisional Muay Thai kingpin Tawanchai PK Saenchai in front of a packed Saitama Super Arena at ONE 172 this past March.
The first two rounds were as tough as ever. Tawanchai’s signature push kicks kept Noiri out of range, forcing the Japanese star to bide his time and study the Thai’s rhythm.
In round three, the moment he had been waiting for arrived. Noiri stepped in and landed a short left hook, sending Tawanchai to the canvas, much to the shock of the crowd in attendance. The Thai superstar beat the count, but Noiri swarmed with a relentless flurry until the referee stepped in to call a halt to the contest.
The victory earned Noiri the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Title, as well as a US$50,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, which sent the arena into a frenzy.
Noiri also earned the distinction of being the first and only man to knock out Tawanchai in ONE.
From early disappointment to the summit of his division, Noiri’s climb was complete – at least for now. Next up, he faces the ultimate challenge of attempting to unify the belts against Superbon at ONE 173 to secure his place among the sport’s greats.
