Fresh off his dominant victory at ONE 173 in Tokyo`s Ariake Arena, Japanese superstar Nadaka Yoshinari became the inaugural ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion following a landslide win over Thailand`s Numsurin. Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo the following day, the 24-year-old outlined an ambitious career trajectory, including an eventual move into kickboxing.
“Defending the belt gives it value. I want to defend it once, twice, maybe three times,” Yoshinari stated. “After that, there are many different challenges within ONE. If opponents become scarce, moving up in weight or taking catchweight fights against larger athletes could be exciting.” He added that the prospect of testing his skills under kickboxing rules is highly motivating, citing the successful transitions of champions like Tawanchai and Superbon: “The idea of testing myself under kickboxing rules really excites me. It boosts my motivation.”
Widely regarded as one of the top talents in the sport, Nadaka Yoshinari is already a highly decorated fighter, having collected major titles at Lumpinee, Rajadamnern, and the WBC, in addition to his new ONE Championship gold. A move into kickboxing would mark another significant step in the Japanese striker’s career.
Although ONE Championship does not yet feature an official Atomweight Kickboxing title, the organization has previously hosted atomweight bouts in the division, most recently featuring fighters such as former K-1 champion Toma Kuroda, Adam, and Kirill Chizhik.
A dream match for fans would pit Yoshinari against fellow pound-for-pound standout Kazuki Osaki, who would be a natural fit for the atomweight division and has previously hinted at a move to ONE. A matchup between the two would be a major all-Japanese meeting between two of the best in their respective disciplines. However, with Osaki currently focused on challenging for the Rajadamnern title at RWS, this highly anticipated clash remains an unlikely possibility for the time being.
Oliver Croft