In 2019, "Muay Thai boy" Zhang Chenglong came to the ONE Championship with the honor of TOPKING Muay Thai World Championship. He played 4 games in one breath and defeated Cambodia "Little White Dragon" Kong Sangpo and two-time Muay Thai World Champion Panikos- Yousef and Australian Muay Thai champion Taylor Hardcastle. In the December battle for the gold belt of the Bantamweight Kick Boxing World Championship, he was defeated by Russian "baby-faced killer" Alaverdi Ramazanov's roaming head-on and cuddle tactics. By 2020, Zhang Chenglong only played one game, and the result was full of regrets.
On October 16, 2020, in the "ONE Championship: Domination Era II" headline main event, Zhang Chenglong, who ranked third on the Bantamweight kick boxing list, played against 28-year-old Japanese fighter Akimoto Haoki. Akimoto Haogui has won championships under the three rules of karate, Muay Thai and kick boxing. He has also won the guidance of the "double crown" Sam-A-Gaiyang Hadao at the Singapore Evolution Boxing Stadium. In the game, Qiu Yuan Haogui and Zhang Chenglong fought fiercely. Zhang Chenglong took the initiative to press in, repeatedly knocking his opponent back with heavy punches and flying knees. Qiu Yuan Haogui's fighting spirit is stubborn and counterattack moves constantly. At the end of the three rounds, one referee awarded the victory to Zhang Chenglong. The two referees believed that Qiu Yuan Haogui had won. In the end, Zhang Chenglong regretted that he lost the game with a different decision.
But Zhang Chenglong does not think he has lost the game. "This year, due to the epidemic, fighting events have been greatly impacted, and everyone is very difficult. The epidemic has greatly affected me. I originally went to Thailand to train, but due to the impact of the new crown in Thailand, the boxing gym was closed. I stayed in Thailand for half a year. , I didn’t train much, coupled with injuries and other reasons, I only played one game this year. I also experienced a lot of difficulties when I went to the Singapore game. Everyone saw that game. I think I won. I want to fight Qiu Yuanhao. Gui said, I should have won this game. If you want to prove yourself, I can play with you again at any time. This is also the game I want to play most this year."
Before the game In an interview with, Zhang Chenglong once said that he not only wants to win, but also hopes to show the spirit of a Chinese boxer in the international arena. "I want to play Chinese fighting skills on the world stage and show the spirit of Chinese fighters. This kind of fighting spirit that never gives up deserves to be carried forward."Aside from the controversial results, at least Zhang Chenglong played his own fighting spirit in the game.
For the overall performance in 2020, Zhang Chenglong scored five to six points for himself, hovering on the edge of the passing line. "I met last year." In many unexpected situations, my family has always supported me, and my team and coaches have also given me a lot of help. It is not easy for everyone during the epidemic, and I am not alone in facing difficulties. I'm holding back a lot of energy now, and this year I will fully release my strength. I want to play a game with Japanese opponents first, and then try to play as many games as possible to get back to my form and get the right to challenge again. I am here for the championship, and I believe that the day to get the right to challenge will not be too far. _P1p
After Capitan became the new bantamweight kick boxing world champion with a sharp punch KO Ramazanov, Zhang Chenglong has more motivation. He did not slacken for a day and moved from footwork , Boxing combination to offensive explosiveness, constantly strengthening himself. When there is no competition, he appears very low-key, rarely speaks out on social media, but he is the one with the loudest target in the training hall. By February 3 Zhang Chenglong is 23 years old and his road to the championship has just begun.
Do you think Zhang Chenglong will be able to win the championship again this year?
