Noiri Pursues Superbon Rematch Via Liu Quarterfinal

Masaaki Noiri gets another crack at the fighter who handed him back-to-back ONE Championship losses — and this time, a World Title shot rides on the result.

Noiri faces Liu Mengyang in a featherweight kickboxing quarterfinal rematch at ONE SAMURAI 2 on August 8 in Tokyo, per BJPENN.com. The eight-man tournament guarantees the winner a shot at reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon, meaning Noiri cannot reach the belt without first erasing the unanimous decision defeat Liu dealt him in December 2024.

Liu's Momentum Sets Up High-Stakes Quarterfinal

Liu has rattled off three straight wins since beating Noiri, including a finish of Tawanchai PK Saenchai that put him in line for a Superbon title shot before the champion withdrew with an injury. Noiri, 33, has not fought since the loss and enters the bracket knowing every potential opponent — Kaito and Mohammad Siasarani meet in the opposite quarterfinal, while Marat Grigorian looms as a possible final — sits between him and Superbon.

Noiri challenged Superbon for undisputed gold in a five-round unification bout at ONE 173 last November and lost. Clearing this bracket is now his only path back. He told BJPENN.com his camp has prepared for both versions of Liu: the aggressive pressure fighter who surprised him the first time and the longer-range striker he originally expected.

ONE SAMURAI 2 streams live from EBARA WAVE Arena Ota on Saturday.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Noiri-Liu rematch opens the road to a Superbon ONE World Title shot