“I Needed a New Challenge” – Pranjanchai Looking to Add to His Legendary Career by Pursuing Kickboxing Gold

Current ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Prajanchai PK Saenchai is dreaming big and hopes to build his legacy in 2024.

On Friday, April 5, the decorated Thai star will aim to become a two-sport king when he takes on undefeated sensation Jonathan Di Bella for his ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title, live in Asia primetime at ONE Friday Fights 58: Superbon vs. Grigorian II.

Prajanchai PK Saenchai wants that champ-champ status

That highly anticipated battle – which pits two of the planet’s top technicians against each other – will take place in front of a raucous Bangkok crowd and at the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.

With hundreds of professional fights to his name, numerous Lumpinee Stadium and Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Titles, and the prestigious ONE Muay Thai World Title in his trophy case, it’s safe to say that Prajanchai has little left to accomplish in his illustrious career.

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However, the 29-year-old isn’t about to stop pursuing greatness. Now just days away from his kickboxing World Title clash with Di Bella, he said: “My first goal for 2024 is to become a two-sport World Champion. The second is to maintain my undefeated status throughout this year.”

While Prajanchai is undeniably one of the greatest Muay Thai fighters to ever lace up the gloves, he remains relatively green in the sport of kickboxing. The beloved Thai explained that his first challenge was transitioning from traditional, big-gloved Muay Thai to the 4-ounce gloves used in ONE. 

New challenges are the next mission

Now that he sits comfortably atop ONE’s talent-laden strawweight Muay Thai division, he’s poised to take the kickboxing world by storm: “I have had more than 500 Muay Thai fights, so I needed a new challenge. Fighting in small gloves in ONE provided the challenge I needed, but it was just temporary.​ So, I’m looking for new challenges in kickboxing.”

Last September, Prajanchai made his much-anticipated kickboxing debut in ONE, earning a dominant decision win over the dangerous Algerian Akram Hamidi at ONE Friday Fights 34. He reports that the move from Muay Thai to kickboxing has been a seamless transition, adding:

“My style is already close to kickboxing, so I had no problem with the transition. I just had to remind myself what weapons were and weren’t allowed.”​