Superlek Kiatmoo9 has withdrawn from ONE on Prime Video 3 with an injury. He had been set to face Panpayak Jitmaungnon in the final of the flyweight Muay Thai Grand Prix.
The Thai fighter took to Instagram to announce he was unable to train properly due to what appears to be a hand injury. As a result he has been forced to withdraw from the fight:
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Familiar opponent
It sounds like people in Thailand have accused Superlek of being scared to face Panpayak. In the caption, writing in Thai, he points out that he has hardly withdrawn from any bouts during his 20 year career as a professional Muay Thai fighter.
The two men have fought each other seven times since becoming stars on the stadium circuit. The most recent meeting came at ONE: ‘No Surrender’ in 2020 with Superlek claiming a decision win.
The fight was scheduled to be the final of the flyweight Grand Prix. Panpayak only came into the tournament as a last minute replacement after Rodtang Jitmuangnon withdrew from his quarter final bout.
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Up for grabs
ONE Championship hasn’t had much luck with these tournaments. Two of the four semi finalists withdrew from the atomweight Grand Prix with Seo Hee Ham suffering an injury and Itsuki Hirata falling sick.
It remains to be seen whether the promotion will parachute in another opponent to be the Grand Prix finalist. There is precedent for that happening, Christian Lee came in to replace Eddie Alvarez in the final of the lightweight tournament in 2019.
There were already ten fights on the ONE on Prime Video 3 card. The event is set for the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur and will be headlined by an all Brazilian bantamweight title fight with John Lineker defending his belt against Fabricio Andrade.
There will be a Muay Thai title on the line too. Regian Eersel and Sinsamut Klinmee go head to head with the inaugural lightweight belt up for grabs.
