Denis Puric is stepping into enemy territory with no fear and plenty to prove. The hard-nosed striker takes on Japanese superstar Takeru Segawa at ONE 173 on November 15 in Tokyo, a matchup that pits Puric’s relentless pressure and knockout power against one of the most decorated kickboxers on the planet. For Puric, it’s not just another fight. It’s a chance to shock the world on his opponent’s home soil.
Puric has shared the ring with elite strikers like Tagir Khalilov, Jacob Smith, and Rodtang and to him, Takeru Segawa is no different.
“Just the hype. It’s the hype around him. That’s about it (what makes Segawa different than anyone else he’s faced),” Puric told Cageside Press.
“I fought f*cking Rodtang for three rounds. Took him to decision. He couldn’t do it (finish me), so I feel like he’s in a lot of trouble. He’s in a lot of trouble. It’s going to be a spectacle every f*cking time I come in there. This one’s going to be no different.”
Puric knows exactly what awaits him in Tokyo, a hostile, but respectful crowd and the weight of expectation favoring the hometown hero. But that’s nothing new for the battle-tested veteran, who has made a career out of embracing the chaos.
“Ah f*ck, I thrive off those kind of roles. I’m always the underdog, the villain. I’m used to fighting in enemy territories. That pressure, I’m used to it bro. Gonna come in there, we’re gonna conquer Japan this time,” he said.
For Puric, the matchup isn’t just another fight, it’s an opportunity to test himself against one of kickboxing’s all-time greats. Facing a three-division K-1 champion like Takeru is exactly the kind of challenge that fuels his competitive fire.
“It’s a big name man. It’s a great name to have on my resume. Three-division K1 champ, why would you not (want the matchup)?,” he said.
“I signed up to fight the best guys in the world. Yeah I might be old, but these guys are overlooking. You see my performance against Rodtang. This one will be no different.”
Asked what fans can expect on fight night, Puric didn’t hesitate. The veteran promised an all-out war, the kind of explosive performance that has defined his reputation.
“Knockouts. Fireworks,” he said.
“Fireworks man! Until he f*cking goes to sleep! Don’t f*cking blink!”
Watch the entire interview with Denis Puric above. He faces Takeru Segawa at ONE 173 in Tokyo, Japan on November 15.
