Superlek is set to return to the Muay Thai arena, and one of his former kickboxing opponents has weighed in on his upcoming fight. Superlek will face Abdulla Dayakaev in a Muay Thai match at ONE Friday Fights 154 on May 15th. Takeru, who recently retired after winning the ONE kickboxing championship in a rematch with Rodtang, previously fought Superlek in January 2024 at ONE 165, where he lost a decision.
Takeru had previously stated that his loss to Superlek was a pivotal moment that significantly shifted his perspective on combat and led to substantial personal growth. When asked about the upcoming Superlek vs. Dayakaev fight, Takeru offered a concise and respectful prediction through an interpreter: “Well, obviously Superlek is someone I couldn’t win [against]. But what I think is, I want for him to win the fight.”
Takeru Receives Accolades After Retirement
Following his retirement from professional competition, Takeru has been recognized by prominent figures in the martial arts world. After securing the ONE Championship gold in his final bout, Takeru will be inducted into the ONE Hall of Fame, as announced by the promotion’s CEO, Chatri Sityodtong. This formal induction is scheduled to take place at ONE Samurai 4 in October.
Additionally, Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara shared a video on his X account showing Takeru visiting the Rizin offices with his ONE Championship belt. Sakakibara commented on their reunion, stating (translated): “Today, in an unexpected turn of events, [Takeru] unexpectedly visited the RIZIN office to report his retirement! Although he has retired from active competition, I hope [Takeru], who continues to hold a strong love for martial arts unchanged, will take various actions to further energize and boost the Japanese martial arts world. Let’s smash through those barriers together!”
Sakakibara and Takeru have a shared history, with Sakakibara playing a significant role in promoting Takeru’s highly anticipated kickboxing bout against Tenshin Nasukawa, known as ‘The Match,’ which took place in Tokyo in June 2022.