For Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa, the 80-second defeat at the hands of Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon remains the most stinging loss of his illustrious career, fueling every training session since.
On April 29, at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, Takeru will step into the ring for what he declares as his final professional bout at ONE Samurai 1. While the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title is at stake, the true prize for him is the rematch with Rodtang.
Their initial encounter at ONE 172 in March 2025 concluded abruptly. Rodtang cornered Takeru and delivered a decisive left hook at 1:20 of the first round, resulting in a shocking and quick knockout that silenced the Saitama Super Arena crowd. This unexpected defeat left an indelible mark, pointing directly to this upcoming April 29 confrontation.
“Following my loss to Rodtang, I realized I absolutely had to defeat him before retiring. That first-round loss was unlike any I had experienced before,” Takeru stated.
“He was the first opponent to inflict such a profound humiliation upon me as a fighter. Therefore, I feel I cannot conclude my fighting career honorably without avenging myself against him.”
Takeru Enters His Farewell Bout Healthy, Driven, and Prepared for a Legendary Finish
The 34-year-old rebuilt his confidence with a second-round stoppage of Denis Puric at ONE 173 in November at Ariake Arena, securing a US$50,000 bonus and, more importantly, the rematch he desperately sought.
His journey into ONE Championship was always centered on facing Rodtang. Every subsequent event — the rebuild, the Puric knockout — has been a chapter leading back to this moment with Rodtang.
This time, Takeru arrives injury-free, believing he is in peak physical condition, and fully aware of the high stakes involved in this final chapter of his career.
“Last time, I wasn’t at my best due to injuries, so I desired to face him again, in my ultimate match, and in prime condition,” he explained.
“Ultimately, I joined ONE Championship primarily to fight Rodtang, so it’s imperative I compete in my best state. Otherwise, I would carry significant regret. For me, the paramount goal is to give everything I have, win this final fight, and achieve my long-held aspirations: claim the ONE belt and defeat Rodtang. Given how I lost our last fight, I simply cannot retire without securing revenge.”
