'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgP/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMGgsf/EACMQAAECBQMFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECBAAFERMUAwYSISNBUaL/2gAIAQEAAT8A2chk4z20y0LjaxXkgdxBK0gUjHk/hg5UPanfU/Mf/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAx/9oACAECAQE/AA2//8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL/2gAIAQMBAT8Ap//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Japanese kickboxing star Masaaki Noiri has successfully turned his ONE Championship campaign around following a slow start. He has marked it with back-to-back statement knockout wins against top opponents.
ONE recently moved to spotlight his about-turn in a video post on its official YouTube channel in line with his scheduled unification title bout against Superbon for the featherweight kickboxing belt at ONE 173 on Nov. 16.
The video feature showcases Noiri's impressive third-round TKO win over Thai striking ace Tawanchai PK Saenchai in his last match in March for the interim featherweight kickboxing belt.
The 32-year-old Team Vasileus standout showed his punching power to send Tawanchai to the canvas in the third round and then unleashed a barrage of strikes that his opponent had no answer to, forcing the referee to call a stop to the match at the 1:55 mark of the frame.
Trending
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
Also spotlighted was Masaaki Noiri's bone-crushing KO win over Shakir Al-Tekreeti of Iraq in January this year, where he ended the match in the second round by shattering the right leg of his opponent with a powerful kick.
The victories came after Noiri lost his first two matches in ONE Championship last year.
Check out Noiri's fight-ending power in the video below:
Masaaki Noiri looks to sustain solid form at ONE 173
The momentum and solid form he had in his last two matches are something Masaaki Noiri is looking to sustain when he battles Superbon in the headlining unification title match at ONE 173.
He shared in an interview with ONE Championship following an intense in-ring staredown he had with Superbon earlier this year that he has grown confident that he can be the best in the featherweight division and become the undisputed champion.
Masaaki Noiri said:
"I'm going to fight the best in the world, Superbon. I have a belt, but this is the interim champion belt."
He added:
"So, I will beat the best, Superbon, and I will be the official world champion of this division."
The Superbon-Noiri unification title match is one of six world title fights on offer at ONE 173, which is happening at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
Tickets for ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri are available via ePlus in Japan. For more information and updates on the event, follow Sportskeeda MMA and ONE Championship.
