ONE Championship: Superbon Singha Mawynn takes first step towards regaining kickboxing crown when he faces Marat Grigorian
- The 33-year-old Thai is the headline act at ONE Friday Fights 58 at Lumpinee Stadium next Friday
- He faces the Armenian for a third time, but on this occasion for the interim featherweight kickboxing title
Twenty twenty-three was a disappointing year for Superbon Singha Mawynn, who lost his ONE featherweight kickboxing world title and saw his 12-fight winning streak come to an end.
The Thai hopes to have more success in 2024, and in one respect he already has, when he got to meet UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones in a Bangkok bar and a sparring match almost broke out.
“We talked about training together one day and we tried to do sparring in the bar, tried to show our skills,” said Superbon. “He’s a nice guy, very humble, very friendly. I was happy to meet him and I will train with him one day.”
Before that, though, Superbon has a more pressing matter to attend to: winning back his world title when he headlines ONE Friday Fights 58 next week.
The 33-year-old will face old rival Marat Grigorian for the third time, with the score at one apiece, and this time the interim featherweight kickboxing title is on the line.
Superbon lost his kickboxing title when he was knocked out by Chingiz Allazov last year. It was a devastating setback for the Thai, who is determined to secure a rematch with the Georgian.
“My goal now is to rematch Chingiz and this is a step (in that direction). The rematch is the goal – I want my kickboxing belt back.”
Allazov fought his last fight when he had a decision win over Grigorian, but Superbon says he has no idea what is going on with the champion and why an interim title is being introduced in his absence.
What he does know is just how dangerous an opponent Grigorian can be and believes he will have to be at his best to beat the Armenian again.
Superbon was knocked out after just 29 seconds in the first fight but claimed a unanimous decision victory in the rematch.
“For me, I am happy to fight him again. It’s exciting because every time I get in the ring with Marat Grigorian I have to focus every single minute. I can’t lose (concentration) for a second.”
Grigorian is coming off a very impressive first-round stoppage of Sittichai Sitsongpeenong at ONE 165. Superbon was watching but believes that victory came against an opponent clearly past his prime.
“I thought Sittichai did good in the first round but [his level] is going down, he’s not like before. Marat is the same, nothing’s changed; he has power and energy, he’s not that technical, but even if you throw a lot of weapons at him he is still there. He can fight for five rounds, 10 rounds, that’s his strong side.”
While Superbon acknowledges his upcoming opponent has good stamina, he believes Grigorian will struggle to cope with his speed.
“I’m gonna beat him the same as before because I am faster, quicker and I have more weapons.”
Superbon started out as a Muay Thai fighter, inning the Kunlun World Max 70kg Tournament in 2017 and the Enfusion 72kg event in 2019.
He then held the ONE Championship featherweight kickboxing title from 2021 until 2023. After losing that, Superbon challenged Tawanchai P.K. Saenchaigym for his Muay Thai featherweight belt but lost narrowly to the champion.
It was a close fight and Superbon thinks fans need to take into consideration just how long he had been away from Muay Thai when assessing his performance.
“If you see me fight in Muay Thai with Tawanchai, I [had not fought] Muay Thai for five years, but I can [still] do that well. Imagine if I have one or two fights in Muay Thai? I’m gonna take that belt,” he said.
Weakness is something that Superbon will be probing for at Lumpinee Stadium next Friday. If Grigorian displays any sign of it, the Thai promises to capitalise ruthlessly.
“The difference between me and Marat is I have more weapons. He only throws punches but I have kicks, knees, push kicks. If he shows weakness I will kill him.”
Superbon has spoken about making the transition into MMA one day and it sounds like he and Jones exchanged a few tips during their social meeting in Bangkok.
Superbon speaks very good English and struck up a rapport with the legendary mixed martial artist. He hopes to have the opportunity to train with the American in the future, Superbon said.
“It would be a good opportunity to learn from the best.”
Jones himself could learn something from Superbon because he is clearly one of the best kickboxers in the world on current form.
He can start proving that again by winning the interim featherweight title next week. By the end of what he hopes will be a better year, he hopes to hold a Muay Thai belt as well.
