Edgar Tabares might be the biggest underdog on the bill at “ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III,” but don’t try and tell him that.
The Mexican striker challenges ONE flyweight muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon at the blockbuster event on May 5, set for the sold-out 1STBANK Center in Colorado.
Tabares was the first Mexican athlete to ever capture the WBC international muay Thai championship, and now he plans to become the first representative of the Central American country to claim gold in ONE Championship history.
“I was (looking) to become the first Mexican in the WBC (to get a) world championship belt when ONE called me,” he recalled.
“So, I say that I want to fight in ONE. But I hope to be the first WBC muay Thai champion, and obviously, I want to be the first Mexican to become a champion in ONE Championship.”
For his slice of history, however, the 28-year-old will have to become the first person to defeat “The Iron Man” in ONE.
Rodtang has marched to the ONE circle 13 times and has left victorious on every occasion, but Tabares feels that he has the gameplan to upset the ultra-aggressive Thai megastar.
“Actually, I like his skills because he’s like my style. When I fight, I try to fight like him,” he said.
“But the fight with Rodtang is not going to be like (someone that I have) fought in the past. I have to be intelligent. I have to be smart. Because he’s a tank, he’s ‘The Iron Man,’ so I need to be an explosive fighter, but I think I need to be a more intelligent fighter with him.”
Going into ONE’s historic U.S. on-ground debut, Tabares proudly represents the closest American neighbor to the south.
Historically, Mexican fighters are renowned for their incredible toughness and unshakeable fighting spirit, and Tabares believes those traits are what separates him from Rodtang’s long line of previous victims.
“Rodtang, it’s an honor. It’s a pleasure to fight with you. I know that you say that it’s another opponent. But I would like to be your biggest opponent, with all the respect that you deserve,” he said.
“I appreciate that you accept the fight and welcome to America. Welcome to the United States. I’m going to show you the Mexican style and the Mexican heart.”
