ONE Championship: Puric says Rodtang has ‘no chance’ in kickboxing bout, looks to title fights ‘when I win’
- Denis Puric and Rodtang Jitmuangnon will clash in flyweight contest next month in Bangkok
- Puric says Rodtang hasn’t fought many top-ranked opponents, points to win over ‘bum of the league’ Edgar Tabares
Denis Puric will tackle one of the best in the business next month, but far from being intimidated by the prospect believes he can take down Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE 167.
At 39 years old, the Bosnian-born fighter, who learned his trade in Canada, is far closer to the end of his career than its rough beginnings in a refugee camp, but believes victory on June 8 could give him a title shot he has spent two decades pursuing.
While Rodtang is more famous for his Muay Thai exploits, the pair will clash in a flyweight kickboxing bout at Impact Arena in Bangkok and Puric said “when I win” it would open up more opportunities.
“It’s not for a title but I’m still excited because when I win it opens the door to both belts. I’m right where I need to be. It’s been a long time coming,” he said.
A relative newcomer to ONE Championship, having joined in 2022, Puric has a less-than-stellar record with the promotion, winning three of his five fights.
But his latest victory over Jacob Smith, a unanimous decision at ONE Fight Night 21, prompted him to call out Rodtang, and ONE obliged a fighter who began his journey in 1995 in war-torn Bosnia, continued in Slovenia and Canada, and then put in the hard yards in Thailand and China before his move.
