Rodtang Jitmuangnon may have meant it as a joke – but Aslamjon Ortikov didn’t see the funny side.
The former ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion caused a stir over the weekend after telling reporters he could ‘fight both’ Ortikov and Akif Guluzada at the same time, so long as ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong gave him ‘a large fight purse.’
The comments came backstage at ONE Friday Fights 128 at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, where Rodtang was supporting his sister-in-law Duangdawnoi Looksaikongdin, who scored a unanimous decision win over Kim Irvine on her promotional debut.
When asked about two of the division’s fastest-rising stars – Guluzada and Ortikov – Rodtang smiled and played to the cameras.
‘I’m sorry everyone, I’m not that good,’ he said, half-laughing. ‘I can fight with anyone, Boss (Chatri) – please give me a large fight purse.
‘I’m not that great, interviewers, I’m not good. I can take them both on even, but Boss, please give me a large fight purse.’
When pressed whether he meant three rounds each, the 28-year-old grinned.
‘I’ll do it for Boss Chatri. I just want a large fight purse, that’s all,’ he reiterated. ‘I’m almost 29 – I don’t know how many more years I’ve got left fighting. Please, Boss, a large fight purse. I’ll take on both of them. If I lose, it’s not too serious – just make sure the contract has that much money.’
The laughter in the room made it clear to most that Rodtang was joking. But the humour didn’t translate online.
Shortly after his light-hearted words surfaced, Ortikov – the 22-year-old Uzbek rising star who recently made his main-roster debut with a statement win over Kongthoranee Sor Sommai at ONE Fight Night 36 – posted on social media that he had ‘lost respect’ for the Thai superstar, despite some meaning potentially being lost in translation.
‘I talked with many Thai people about this to make sure, and they all said the same thing,’ Ortikov told the Bangkok Post. ‘I respected him more than enough, but this was the level of disrespect from him.
‘But if it was just a joke for the media,’ he added, with a wink emoji, ‘then mine was too.’
Ortikov’s reaction came after a rapid rise which has seen him secure a US$100,000 ONE contract and vault himself into the promotion’s official flyweight Muay Thai rankings.
Guluzada, meanwhile, continued his own ascent on the same card as Ortikov this month, with a victory over Jaosuayai, making both men legitimate contenders in one of ONE’s deepest divisions.
Rodtang will have little time to dwell on the misunderstanding. The Thai superstar returns to action on November 16 at ONE 173 in Tokyo, where he faces Nong-O Gaiyanghadao for the vacant flyweight Muay Thai world title.
Should he reclaim the belt he lost on the scales last year, then Ortikov or Guluzada could very well be his next contender.