“Golden Boy” Wang Junguang is back in ONE Championship, and he has no intention of letting this opportunity pass him by.
The Chinese striker faces reigning ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Prajanchai Pongsuphan PK in a strawweight kickboxing main event at The Inner Circle 35 on Friday, October 16, streaming exclusively for members via live.onefc.com from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The road that brought Wang back to this moment is one of patience, hard work, and a burning desire to finish what he started years ago. His promotional debut in 2019 against Federico “The Little Big Man” Roma ended inside the first round via TKO, a statement so emphatic that it earned him an immediate shot at the inaugural ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title against Sam-A Gaiyanghadao.
Five hard rounds followed, with Sam-A’s relentless output earning the unanimous decision and the title. A split-decision loss to Aslanbek Zikreev in 2020 further complicated his path. Now, after nearly six years away from the ONE ring, Wang is back with a 30-7 career record and a clarity of purpose that was not there the first time around.
There is excitement in his voice when he discusses this fight, but there is also a weight to it that speaks to how much is riding on what happens inside Lumpinee Stadium on October 16.
Wang told onefc.com:
“It’s a mix of both. I’m nervous and excited at the same time. This return to ONE Championship is my last chance. I feel like I would never earn another shot if I fell this time. My goal is to claim the title and win the gold belt.
“The biggest change is my mindset. I’m much more mentally mature than I used to be; I wasn’t there before.”
Standing across from Wang is a legend who requires no introduction in the combat sports world. Prajanchai is a Bangkok native who carries one of the most extraordinary striking records in the sport, 344-53 across a career that has made him one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.
A former ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion and multi-time ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion, he returns to action himself after a year away following his loss to Jonathan Di Bella and a surgery. When Wang discovered who his opponent would be, the reaction was immediate.
He said:
“I was really excited when I found out my opponent would be Prajanchai. I know he’s a [former] two-sport champion, and this fight means a lot to me. If I win, more opportunities will open up, and I’ll move one step closer to a title shot.”
“Golden Boy” has studied Prajanchai with the thoroughness of a fighter who understands that preparation is everything when facing someone of this caliber.
The Thai legend combines boxing, Muay Thai, and kickboxing with remarkable fluidity, creating a technical and high-output style that is tough to counter. But Wang has taken stock of every dimension of the challenge and identified where he believes the edge lies in this matchup.
He said:
“Prajanchai has excellent technique. He’s quick with great rhythm, strong control, and tons of experience.
“His greatest strength is his wealth of experience. I’ve heard he competes across boxing, Muay Thai, and kickboxing. He stays very active, fighting nonstop. By comparison, I haven’t fought in nearly three years. If there is a weakness, it would be his relatively limited experience in kickboxing.”
Wang Is Going All Out For Knockout Against Prajanchai
Wang Junguang has spent his entire career competing under kickboxing rules, and that accumulated experience is the foundation on which he believes his performance on October 16 will be built.
The nearly six-year absence from ONE has not diminished his confidence in what he brings to a kickboxing contest. If anything, the time away has sharpened his appreciation for the specific advantages his background gives him against a fighter who, for all his brilliance across multiple disciplines, has less time under the kickboxing rule set than his Chinese opponent.
The Yao Fight Team product said:
“My biggest advantage is my kickboxing experience. I’ve fought under kickboxing rules my whole career.
“If I can defeat Prajanchai after this long hiatus from ONE, it proves I’m still an elite fighter. Even with the long layoff, I remain at the top level of competition.”
Wang did not return to ONE Championship to survive or to make a respectable showing. He came back to knock someone out, to earn opportunities, and to remind every fighter in the strawweight kickboxing division that he is a genuine threat.
The fans watching on Friday want a firefight, and the Chinese star intends to deliver one, with a specific outcome in mind from the first bell. His message to Prajanchai is brief, direct, and loaded with intent.
He said:
“I’m going all out to knock my opponent out in this fight. Fans are probably looking forward to a firefight between us. We will definitely deliver an amazing fight. Prajanchai, I hope you are as ready as I am. And let’s rock.”