Sangarthit targets statement win over TAKU at ONE Friday Fights 144: “I’m very confident in my power”

Growing up in the same orbit as Rodtang Jitmuangnon would test any young fighter’s sense of self. Sangarthit Looksaikongdin is Rodtang’s brother-in-law, trained in the same gym, shaped by the same standards.

The comparison is unavoidable. But at 22 years old, with an undefeated 19-0 professional boxing record already behind him before he ever threw a kick in ONE Championship, Sangarthit is building something of his own.

Friday night, February 27, he gets another chance to add to it when he meets Japanese bantamweight kickboxer TAKU at ONE Friday Fights 144 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

His path to this moment wasn’t smooth. A loss to Suablack Tor Pran49 at ONE Friday Fights 114 forced a reset, and the win that followed against Ali Koyuncu at ONE Friday Fights 126 — while important — left him unsatisfied. He knows when a performance isn’t good enough. This time, he’s drawing on both lessons.

“Even though I got the win last time, it was a real toss-up. My biggest mistake was definitely the weight cut, and in the ring, I let my emotions get the better of me,” Sangarthit said. “After I lost to Suablack, I realized I needed to change, so for the third fight, I tried to loosen up a bit too much. For this fight, I’ve found a balance — not too stressed, but not too relaxed. I’m right in the middle.”

Sangarthit banks on boxing IQ to neutralize TAKU’s aggression

TAKU is the type of opponent who makes fights ugly. He presses forward, forces exchanges, and dares his opponent to stand and trade. For some fighters, that’s a problem. For Sangarthit, it’s an invitation.

His boxing foundation — 19 professional wins across four years before kickboxing became his focus — gave him a counter-puncher’s instincts and the ability to read incoming shots in real time. Against a forward-moving striker, that edge matters.

The camp has been deliberate. Rodtang and Sangarthit’s older brothers have been drilling him hard on defense, reinforcing that clean offense only exists behind a solid guard. The family keeps him honest. The gym keeps him sharp.

“My edge will be reading his punch patterns. With my pro boxing experience, I can spot the holes in his striking,” Sangarthit said. “I’ve studied him, and he’s the type to just walk forward and trade. It’s going to be a fun fight because I love it when someone comes at me — we can just get in there and scrap. I’m going to be more calculated this time. I’m not just going to trade blows blindly because he’s no pushover. That said, I’m very confident in my power.”