February 4, 2025

On Sunday, February 9, at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium Second Arena in Tokyo, K-1 WORLD MAX 2025 will feature a K-1 WORLD GP Super Lightweight Title Match, where champion Yodkhunpon Weerasakreck (Thailand/Weerasakreck Fairtex Gym) will defend his title against challenger Hayato Suzuki (Japan/K-1 Gym Gotanda Team Kings). Ahead of his first title defense, Yodkhunpon spoke in an interview.

After making his mark in Thailand’s two major stadiums, Lumpinee and Rajadamnern, Yodkhunpon transitioned to GLORY in 2014, where he continued to excel. In 2018, he won the TOPKING WORLD SERIES -70kg Tournament. He was scheduled to face Masaaki Noiri in K-1 in January 2021, but the bout was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, he participated in an 8-man Welterweight Championship League in Thailand’s RWS (Rajadamnern World Series), advancing all the way to the finals 4. During his time in GLORY, he honed a punch-heavy fighting style, with his left hook becoming a devastating weapon, capable of knocking opponents out with a single shot.

In September 2024, he entered the 7th K-1 WORLD GP Super Lightweight Championship Tournament, where he knocked out Can Pinar and Ionut Popa in consecutive fights. In the finals, he defeated Shu Inagaki, becoming the new K-1 Super Lightweight Champion.

Interview with Yodkhunpon Weerasakreck

– You’re set to defend your title against Suzuki. How are you feeling about this fight?
“I’m happy to have the opportunity to fight in K-1 again. In our last fight, Suzuki wasn’t able to perform at his best due to his injury, so I’m looking forward to both of us competing at 100% this time.”

– How did you feel when you won the K-1 Super Lightweight Championship tournament?
“I think most Thai fighters dream of becoming a K-1 champion, so I was very happy to achieve that goal.”

– What do you think was the key to your victory in the tournament?
“There were several factors. One was that I had a great training camp in preparation for the tournament. Also, the timing was perfect for me, and I was able to capitalize on that. And above all, I had a strong desire to become a champion.”

– Before the tournament, there were rumors of your retirement.
“Yes, it’s true that I was considering retirement. At that time, I was mentally exhausted, and I was thinking about stepping away from fighting. But then Weerasakreck Gym’s chairman approached me and suggested that I compete in K-1. I decided to give it one last try—if I failed in K-1, I was planning to retire.”

– What does K-1 mean to you?
“K-1 is a dream stage. When I was 10 years old, I watched Buakaw become a champion, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. Now that I’ve achieved that, I feel like my dream has come true.”

– How do you manage to endure such intense training?
“When it comes to my last fight, I felt a deep sense of gratitude toward Chairman Weerasakreck for giving me the opportunity to fight in K-1, and that pushed me to win at all costs. My family also plays a huge role in motivating me.”

– How did your family react when you won the title?
“Before I competed in K-1, my parents would always tell me to train properly. When I won the championship, they were surprised but very happy for me. My father was also a Muay Thai fighter, so he has always supported me.”

– Was your father the reason you started Muay Thai?
“Yes. Since my father was a Muay Thai fighter, I naturally grew up in an environment where it was easy to start training. I began practicing Muay Thai when I was 6 years old, but my biggest motivation was to help my parents financially. As they were getting older, I wanted to support them economically, and that’s why I pursued Muay Thai.”

– Have you fully adapted to K-1 rules?
“I’ve been training under K-1 rules consistently, so compared to last time, I feel much more comfortable with the format now.”

– In the September tournament, you scored two KO victories, proving your strength. Are you aiming for an even stronger performance this time?
“I’ve been training well, so I hope K-1 fans look forward to my performance.”

– What was your impression of Hiromu Inagaki, the opponent you defeated in the final?
“It was my first time facing a Japanese fighter in a tournament final. He was different from the opponents I had fought before. He was fast, used his kicks well, and I took note of that. I plan to apply what I learned from that fight to this upcoming match.”

– What do you think about Suzuki as an opponent?
“I believe he’s a very strong fighter, but I’ve studied him well, so I have no concerns.”

– Suzuki is known for his aggressive fighting style. Are you confident you won’t lose to his pressure?
“I also have an aggressive fighting style, so I plan to fight fire with fire.”

– Suzuki commented that you’ve never faced a fighter like him before. How do you respond to that?
“That doesn’t bother me at all. No matter what style he brings, I have no problem adapting.”

– You’ve been training with ONE Championship Featherweight Kickboxing Champion Tawanchai P.K.Saenchai. How has that helped you?
“Yes, I’ve been sparring with Tawanchai, who is the ONE champion. Since Suzuki is a southpaw, I trained specifically for that by sparring with Tawanchai. He’s one of the best fighters in the world, so I feel completely prepared for this fight.”

– What do you consider to be your biggest strength as a fighter?
“My fast punches. In Muay Thai, most fighters throw simple one-two combinations, but I throw four or more punches in a combination. That’s a key reason why I’ve been able to score KO wins with my punches.”

– Suzuki is also known for his strong kicks. Do you have any concerns about that?
“For us Muay Thai fighters, his kicks pose no threat at all.”

– What kind of K-1 champion do you want to be moving forward?
“My goal is to defend my title and hold onto it for as long as possible. I want to showcase my full ability and prove the strength of Muay Thai to the world.”