Rukiya “Demolition Man” Anpo is frustrated ahead of his next high-stakes appearance, and he intends to take every ounce of it out on Bogdan Shumarov at ONE SAMURAI 4.
Still feeling the sting of a unanimous decision defeat to Marat Grigorian, the Japanese striker is eager to wipe the slate clean when he moves up to the lightweight kickboxing division to face the heavy-handed Bulgarian. Their clash emanates live from the iconic Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, October 17.
Carrying lofty credentials into his promotional debut against the legendary Armenian at ONE 173, Anpo started strongly before losing steam and falling short on the scorecards.
Now several months removed from that sobering experience, the Himeji City native is drawn back to the global stage on a quest for redemption. While Shumarov boasts an intimidating 100 percent finishing rate in ONE’s weekly circuit, Anpo remains unmoved by the threat.
Anpo told onefc.com:
“He is a power type [of fighter]. He is a bit similar to Grigorian in that way. In ONE, he has fought [four] times, won [three] of them, and has three KOs.
“I understand he has a really strong record and is a tough fighter. But I don’t have any particular attachment or feelings toward him.”
That quest for redemption has taken him a full weight class above. At lightweight, Anpo intends to unleash the skills that made him one of Japan’s most feared strikers.
The stylistic contrast could not be starker. Where Shumarov overwhelms with relentless force, the MFL team CLUB es representative operates on a different wavelength.
The 30-year-old said:
“My strength is definitely my explosiveness, my quickness, the power to end a fight in an instant. It is a bit different from raw power. It is more like sharpness and unpredictable attacks — that is my biggest weapon.”
Openly owning up to the mistakes of his previous outing, Anpo feels nothing is holding him back anymore. He’s addressed every variable and prepared for every detail.
In Anpo’s mind, Shumarov is stepping onto the tracks, and “Demolition Man” has no intention of slowing down.
He said:
“I don’t think I have any weaknesses right now. This time there is no excuse about the weight cut. I will put out my best performance, and no matter how the fight goes, [I’ll] completely crush him.”
Rukiya Anpo Determined To Rewrite His Debut Narrative
Rukiya Anpo has never been comfortable accepting moral victories, knowing the Marat Grigorian defeat fell well short of his own exacting standards.
The Japanese star has since made peace with it. Only one thing constitutes full redemption — an unforgettable performance against Bogdan Shumarov that reveals his true ceiling.
Anpo said:
“In the last match against Grigorian, some people said I fought well, but from where I stand, I didn’t even put out thirty percent of what I am capable of.
“This time, I want to put out a hundred percent, my true best performance, and show everyone that Rukiya Anpo is genuinely strong. That is what I want everyone to see.”
Venturing into new territory also puts reigning ONE Lightweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Regian “The Immortal” Eersel and his 26 pounds of gold within striking distance. “Demolition Man,” however, refuses to get ahead of himself.
Anpo does not deal in borrowed confidence or rehearsed declarations. Locked in on October 17, he will stand before his compatriots in Tokyo with one outcome already manifested in his mind.
He said:
“I am going to win, no question. As for exactly how the fight plays out, or what technique I win with, you won’t know that until fight day itself.
“It will come down to how much I can build myself up in that time. But the one thing that is set in stone is that I am winning.”