Former three-division K-1 champion Takeru Segawa will be stepping away from fighting after his next fight, but the Japanese kickboxing megastar is not stepping away from the sport.
The 34-year-old headlines ONE SAMURAI 1 against Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a rematch for the ONE interim flyweight kickboxing world title at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Wednesday, April 29 — the final professional fight of a career that has defined Japanese striking for over a decade.
But even as he prepares to close that chapter, his mind is already on what comes after, and the responsibility he feels toward a sport that gave him everything.
Takeru Segawa has never just been a fighter. He has been a standard-bearer — someone whose performances, work ethic, and commitment to entertaining the public helped keep Japanese combat sports relevant through multiple eras.
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Speaking to ONE Championship before he steps through the ropes for a last competitive fight, ‘Natural Born Krusher’ shared the vision he is carrying into his career swansong.
“After my retirement, I hope the martial arts sports industry will remain popular and lively. It will make me sad if it declines after I’m gone. So, I want to do what I can to keep combat sports in Japan popular and thriving,” Takeru Segawa told the promotion.
The Japanese megastar went on to add:
“I would like fighters who truly care about the martial arts industry to lead it. So, it should not be someone who only thinks about themselves, even though in martial arts, it’s unavoidable that people become focused only on themselves.”
On April 29 in Tokyo, ‘Natural Born Krusher’ fights his final fight. What he leaves behind — the standard, the passion, and the vision for what Japanese combat sports can be — will outlast any title he ever held.
Rodtang reflects on the massive honor of being Takeru Segawa’s final dance partner
During a separate interview with ONE, Rodtang — the former ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion — had this to say on what it means to share the ring with Takeru Segawa before he calls it a day.
“This fight is the most important fight yet, not because of an interim belt, but because it’s his last fight. And he chose me. He probably really respects me. And I’m happy to be a part of his fighting journey,” the Thai megastar shared.
Pay-per-view passes for ONE SAMURAI 1 are available for purchase at live.onefc.com.
Edited by Aziel Karthak
