“My biggest motivation” - Samet Agdeve promised mother his hard work would pay off and now he’s ready to make history

Samet Agdeve | Image by ONE Championship
Samet Agdeve [Image courtesy: ONE Championship]

Undefeated Turkish knockout artist Samet Agdeve of Turkey didn’t have an ideal childhood.

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At an early age, he dealt with trials and tribulations on the mean streets of Izmir and had to grow up real fast. However, the 21-year-old phenom has no regrets since those hardships molded him into the fighter he is today.

‘The King’ will look to snap Roman Kryklia’s 15-fight winning streak at ONE Fight Night 37 on Prime Video. If the ONE debutant can do the improbable, he’ll leave Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium as the inaugural heavyweight kickboxing world champion on Nov. 7.

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Agdeve's path to this moment has been anything but easy. The Turkish striker revealed he slept on the streets, worked grueling construction jobs, and took night shifts as security just to get by.

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Martial arts wasn’t just his passion; it was his escape from his cruel upbringing.

Agdeve shared in his pre-event interview with ONE Championship:

“My biggest motivation is my loneliness. Since childhood, I’ve been very alone, I lacked support, and I was even used. This fight is like revenge for me. My biggest motivation is my childhood.”
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There were times when Samet Agdeve almost succumbed to the pressures of his environment.

The undefeated striker, though, managed to stay on course due to two key figures in his life. Now, the Turkish star is one win away from becoming a ONE world champion, which he credits to his wife and his mother. He told ONE:

“I slept on the streets. I got stabbed. I went hungry. I worked in construction. At night, I worked security. My wife supported me so much in those times – I can’t repay her.”
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'The King' added:

“My mother used to say, ‘When you rise, you’ll tell these stories,’ and I promised I would. I didn’t think it would be this soon, but thank God I’m here."

Catch ONE Fight Night 37 live Friday, Nov. 7, in U.S. primetime on Prime Video for North American audiences.

Follow One Championship News, Schedule & Results at Sportskeeda.

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Edited by Aziel Karthak
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