Superlek is set to return to Muay Thai, and a former kickboxing rival has shared his thoughts on the 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 ONE kickboxing gold in a rematch against Rodtang, previously fought Superlek and lost a close decision at ONE 165 in January 2024.
Takeru has described his loss to Superlek as a performance that significantly altered his perspective on combat and led to substantial personal growth. When asked about the Superlek vs. Dayakaev fight, Takeru offered a brief and respectful opinion through an interpreter, stating:
“Well, obviously Superlek is someone I couldn’t win [against]. But what I think is, I want for him to win the fight.”
Takeru Honored by ONE and Rizin Following Retirement
Takeru’s decision to retire from competition has earned him recognition from prominent figures in the martial arts world. Following his final bout where he secured the ONE Championship gold, Takeru will be inducted into the ONE Hall of Fame, as announced by promotional head 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, commenting on their reunion, stated in the translated post:
“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 super-fight against Tenshin Nasukawa, known as ‘The Match’, which took place in Tokyo in June 2022.
