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    • Sam-A dismisses retirement talk, eager to test himself against Zhang Peimian at ONE 169
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    Sam-A dismisses retirement talk, eager to test himself against Zhang Peimian at ONE 169

    Umito Posted on

    Thai legend Sam-A GayyanghadaoThe climb to a ONE world title will continue at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug when he faces a Chinese phenomenon “Fighting cock” Zhang Peimian in a crucial strawweight kickboxing clash.

    This match will be broadcast live in prime time in the United States next Friday, November 8, from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

    For Sam-A, 41, this fight will be a new opportunity to prove that he is still one of the best strikers on the planet.

    He recently scored a spectacular first-round knockout against a French-Algerian. Akram “The Nugget” Hamidireminding fans that he possesses breathtaking power in his precise counterattacks.

    Despite this victory against a young star, many wonder if the veteran is about to call it quits. But for his part, Sam-A declared onefc.com that he is not yet considering retiring:

    “I will keep fighting until my body can’t take it anymore.”

    As a former ONE Strawweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion, as well as a former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, Sam-A has established himself as an all-time great and certainly has nothing left to prove in his career.

    Yet he continues to challenge himself against young and hungry contenders. His inspiration to continue fighting, he says, comes from those close to him:

    “I have two sources of motivation. The first comes from my family, from my children. I think I still have the strength to fight to earn some money for my children’s education.

    “The second source comes from my wife because she always motivates and pushes me. She says she will always be by my side.

    Motivated to secure a more comfortable future for his children and make his wife proud, the Evolve rep aims to once again wear 26 pounds of ONE Championship gold around his waist.

    While a win over a former ONE world title challenger like Zhang could earn him a shot at becoming the reigning kingpin of strawweight kickboxing. Prajanchai PK Saenchaithe Thai thinks he will have to win at least one more time to deserve it.

    And regardless of his age, Sam-A insists he still has a lot of fighting left to do:

    “I want to become a ONE world champion again before I retire. However, I think winning this fight is too early for me to go for the gold medal.

    “Everyone wonders how long an old dog like me can stay in this game, but winning this kickboxing match will boost my confidence and prove that I can still fight.”

    Sam-A ends clash with Zhang

    Sam-A Gaiyangahdao’s aspirations to regain the world title are high in theory, but he will first have to get past the dangerously talented Zhang Peimian.

    Twenty years his junior, “Fighting Rooster” is feared for his ferocious, high-volume attacks and endless combination strikes.

    Sam-A is well aware of the serious threat he will face at ONE 169:

    “This fight should be a challenge because he is younger than me and he is a tough fighter. This fight is a test for my body.

    The longtime star may not be able to match his foe’s raw physique and youthful energy, but he can lean on his savvy and masterful veteran technique against the hard-hitting Chinese prodigy.

    Sam-A explained:

    “I discovered many weaknesses in him, such as when he knocks, he leaves the windows open. My main advantage in this fight is probably my experience. I’ve fought many different styles of fighters, and he’s not new.

    Ultimately, the former titleholder expects his clash with Zhang to be a battle of aggression and fight IQ – and he plans to come out on top.

    Given his illustrious career and decades of experience against the best strikers on the planet, it’s no surprise that Sam-A is full of self-confidence:

    “This fight should be fun because I’m definitely going to give it my all. Let’s see who will attack the most between him and me, or what game plans we will have. I am confident, 100 percent.

    Umito
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