Liu Mengyang Tells Noiri To Retire After Samurai 2 Rematch

Liu Mengyang has told Masaaki Noiri to hang up his gloves if he suffers another knockout loss at ONE SAMURAI 2.

The Chinese striker meets the former interim champion in a quarterfinal of the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament on Saturday at Tokyo's EBARA WAVE Arena Ota, per BJ Penn. Liu won their first meeting by unanimous decision in December, handing Noiri back-to-back losses for the first time in his career. Now 36-7 with 11 finishes and a three-fight ONE Championship winning streak, the 23-year-old enters the rematch with sharper momentum than his 33-year-old opponent.

Liu Dismisses Noiri's Threat Ahead Of Tokyo Rematch

Liu was unsparing in his assessment of Noiri's game. "After sharing the cage with Masaaki Noiri, I can say his fighting style is extremely one-dimensional," he said, according to BJ Penn. "He's good at seizing openings and timing his strikes well, but his overall game plan is still very one-dimensional in my opinion." Liu then issued his sharpest warning: "If you get knocked out again this time, don't claim you just let your guard down. It's simply because you're past your prime, and it's time for you to retire."

The winner advances toward a guaranteed shot at reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon, a prize both fighters have identified as their ultimate goal. Noiri, who carries a 51-14 record and a former interim title into Saturday's rematch, will have a home Tokyo crowd behind him. Liu said his edge lies elsewhere. "My greatest strengths are my unbreakable willpower and relentless fighting spirit, paired with the hyper-specific game plans my coach designs for every opponent," he told the outlet. "I don't see any real threats from him in the rematch at all."

Noiri has spent the months since his November title loss to Superbon searching for a path back to gold. Liu has spent the same stretch stacking wins. ONE SAMURAI 2 streams live on August 8.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Liu Mengyang aiming for second victory over Noiri at ONE SAMURAI 2