Superbon Vs. Masaaki Noiri: 4 Keys To Victory In Kickboxing World Title Unification Clash At ONE 173
Combat sports’ most stacked weight class will finally have its undisputed ruler when divisional king Superbon and interim champion Masaaki Noiri collide in a ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title Unification battle in the main event of ONE 173 this Sunday, November 16.
Set to go down inside Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, Thailand and Japan’s best striking specialists meet in a five-round battle that ticks all the boxes of an ideal striking slugfest.
For Superbon, this matchup represents another opportunity to cement his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Meanwhile, Noiri – a former K-1 Champion – finds himself one victory away from achieving his lifelong dream on home soil.
Before they go toe-to-toe at ONE 173, we take a closer look at each fighter’s keys to victory in Japan.
#1 Superbon’s Masterful Head Kicks
Few weapons in all of martial arts carry the fight-ending devastation of Superbon’s signature head kick.
The Thai kingpin has built a hall of fame-worthy gallery by decapitating opponents with either leg when he goes high, and this tool will be his most dangerous asset against Noiri.
He captured the inaugural crown by putting Giorgio Petrosyan to sleep with a right kick to the chin. Meanwhile, Turkish powerhouse Tayfun Ozcan was left staring at the ceiling after a left kick that came from nowhere.
Against an aggressive opponent like Noiri — who will most likely press forward — these head kicks become even more dangerous as the Japanese challenger walks into fully loaded strikes.
If the 35-year-old can establish respect for this weapon early, it will dictate every exchange that follows.
Noiri will be forced to temper his aggression, keep his hands high, and second-guess every forward step – all of which could set Superbon up for another insane highlight-reel win at ONE 173.
#2 Noiri’s Punishing Leg Kicks
Noiri possesses one of the sport’s most destructive leg kick arsenals, and it could rob Superbon of his most dangerous weapon while opening up finishing opportunities.
Recent history provides the blueprint. Noiri’s leg kicks finished Shakir Al-Tekreeti with a brutal sequence that left the Iraqi unable to continue.
He used his signature tool to slow down ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai at ONE 172, before flooring him with piercing boxing combinations to secure the interim gold via TKO.
As such, these leg kicks serve multiple strategic purposes for the former K-1 Champion at ONE 173.
First, they accumulate damage that compounds as the fight progresses. Second, much like he did to Tawanchai, Noiri’s chopping low strikes will force defensive reactions that create openings upstairs.
The 32-year-old, however, must commit to attacking the leg early and often. If he does, the Thai’s mobility will take a hit, and Noiri won’t need a second invitation when he sees a stationary target begging to be touched.
#3 Superbon’s Wicked Jab
Superbon’s kicking prowess has defined his glorious career, but his fists – particularly his jab – will be crucial to controlling distance and setting up finishing strikes.
The ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion’s lead left is fast enough to land between Noiri’s punches, stiff enough to snap the head back and score points, and accurate enough to score with consistency for as long as the fight lasts.
When the Japanese fighter has to wade through a barrage of jabs to land his own strikes, his aggression becomes predictable and energy-draining rather than overwhelming and fight-ending.
More importantly, the jab sets up everything in Superbon’s arsenal.
Once the Team Vasileus athlete becomes preoccupied with the constant threat of the Thai’s first layer of attack, the Bangkok-based kickboxing wizard will find a way to bait, draw reactions, and rack up volume.
If Superbon can establish his lead left early, he’ll keep Noiri at the end of his strikes where his reach and technical polish shine brightest.
#4 Noiri’s Unbridled Aggression
Victory for Noiri requires transforming this technical chess match into a phone booth brawl.
The interim king thrives when he can march forward and unleash the furious combinations that have produced his most memorable victories.
This pressure-oriented approach isn’t reckless aggression – it’s calculated warfare. Noiri combines excellent defensive fundamentals with patient forward movement, using his high guard to protect against counters while systematically creating angles.
His ultra-aggressive ways will be even more critical against Superbon, who excels when given space and time to land his money shots.
By denying that space through constant forward movement, Noiri can force the Thai megastar into chaotic exchanges where the Japanese challenger’s aggression and work rate are second to none.
If he can make Superbon fight going backward, while systematically breaking down his legs and cornering him on the ropes, a historic upset could be in the offing on Japanese soil when ONE Championship takes to the Ariake Arena with a star-studded cast on November 16.
