A knockout debut would be one thing. Becoming a two-division threat from day one is another matter entirely.

Ryujin Nasukawa opens his ONE Championship account against Thai slugger Thongpoon PK Saenchai in a strawweight kickboxing bout at The Inner Circle 23 on Friday, July 24. The card streams exclusively to subscribers from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.

The 20-year-old already holds an ISKA World Title and a two-division RISE Championship. Moreover, he has broken down Thongpoon’s relentless, forward-charging style in detail ahead of Friday’s assignment.

True to the explosive reputation that built his 18-3 record, Nasukawa has no interest in simply getting his hand raised. He wants a finish emphatic enough to announce his arrival to the entire combat sports world.

“I’m aiming for a knockout. I want people to think, ‘Something crazy just showed up,'” Nasukawa said.

“I want a finish that goes beyond what everyone’s expecting and to bring a fresh wind to ONE and to the combat sports world as a whole.”

Ryujin Nasukawa eyes gold in two divisions

Ryujin Nasukawa considers Friday’s assignment only the opening chapter of a much larger plan. The Chiba native has spent his career chasing championships across multiple promotions. Also, he has no intention of treating strawweight as his ceiling.

Nasukawa has already sat cornerside for fellow countrymen competing inside the organization. He watched the electric atmosphere at Lumpinee Stadium build around him. He was there for Sora Tanazawa and Kazuteru Yamazaki at ONE Friday Fights 158 and The Inner Circle 18 this past June. The experience left an impression that has stayed with him.

Now he gets to experience that same spotlight as a competitor rather than an observer, chasing a moment he has watched unfold from the sidelines.

“I really want to win, leave a strong impact, and show that I have what it takes to chase World Titles in both the strawweight and atomweight divisions,” Nasukawa said.