The card for ONE Fight Night 28 is coming to light, and the headline attraction is likely to be certified bedlam.
On Saturday, February 8, the ONE strawweight Muay Thai world title will be up for grabs when two-sport king Prajanchai PK Saenchai defends the crown against British bruiser Ellis Badr Barboza at Bangkok, Thailand’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.
Prajanchai is considered one of the greatest strikers ever to put on a pair of gloves, which is unsurprising, given that he has Muay Thai titles in famed stadiums Lumpinee and Rajadamnern, along with the strawweight Muay Thai and kickboxing belts in ONE.
The Thai dynamo has been a force to be reckoned with since his arrival in the world’s largest martial arts organization in 2021. In his promotional debut, he claimed the ONE strawweight Muay Thai world championship after a five-round striking masterclass opposite the legendary Sam-A Gaiyanghadao.
He may have lost the gold in a shock defeat to Joseph Lasiri in his next bout in May 2022, but the 30-year-old went on a tear in response.
Prajanchai has won all five of his matches since that loss, including a redemption-earning win over Lasiri to take back the strawweight Muay Thai crown in December 2023 and a clinical five-round showing against Jonathan Di Bella that earned him the division’s kickboxing strap last June.
He now sits high atop two striking mountains in ONE Championship. But that doubles the size of the target on his back, and his weight bracket is awash with rising contenders.
Barboza is one of those men looking to dethrone the king, and the young gun could become an overnight superstar if he thwarts Prajanchai in February.
“El Jefe’s” trademark pressure and ridiculous power helped him become a WBC European Muay Thai champion before he joined ONE, and his record to get that accolade included four wins in just five months.
This past July at ONE Fight Night 23, the 24-year-old took part in a thrilling three-round contest against surging Thai star Aliff Sor Dechapan, and he walked away with the win to show he belongs among the organisation’s elite strikers.
Barboza will have a chance to push for the summit of the strawweight Muay Thai mountain at ONE Fight Night 24, and there is little doubt he’ll make the most of the opportunity.
However, legacy beckons for Prajanchai, so fans can bet he’ll have all his weapons sharpened to put down the challenge of “El Jefe” on February 8.
