Most fighters promise an easy night. Japan’s former K-1 king prefers honesty, admitting his next fight may hinge on who imposes their style first.
Yuki Yoza meets Nabil Anane in bantamweight kickboxing at ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17. The bout takes place at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, with World Title implications for the winner.
The 28-year-old fell short against Jonathan Haggerty at ONE SAMURAI 1 in April before answering with a three-round win over Ben Woolliss at The Inner Circle 22. Anane, the former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion, has been just as hungry for a shot at kickboxing gold.
The pair were once linked to an interim title bout, which Yoza declined while holding out for Haggerty. Now the Team Vasileus athlete faces a 6-foot-4 opponent who stands nine inches taller and blends that length with versatile striking.
Yoza has done his homework on the Thai-Algerian star. As fight night approaches, his outlook remains strikingly level-headed.
“This fight is going to be fifty-fifty. If I fight the way I want to fight, it’s going to be easy. But if Nabil can do what he wants to do, it’s not going to be easy for me. I would need to figure him out, so it depends,” Yoza said.
Yuki Yoza weighs in on Haggerty vs. Akimoto
A win would put Yoza right back in the title conversation, ready to make his case against whoever holds the bantamweight kickboxing crown after October 17. Haggerty defends that belt on the same card against former titleholder Hiroki Akimoto.
Having already shared the ring with the reigning king, Yoza knows exactly what the Briton brings. He has a clear preference in the main event, though he sees little separating the two men.
“I want Jonathan Haggerty to win. But to be honest, there really isn’t much of a difference in their skill level,” Yoza said.
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
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