Chingiz Allazov Talks ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title Victory, Seeks Regian Eersel Fight

Chingiz Allazov and his journey to the top of the ONE featherweight kickboxing mountain began with a speed bump, but the transition of the Azerbaijani-Belarusian banger’s mentality in tumultuous waters is what led him to stardom.

“Chinga” dethroned kickboxing icon Superbon Singha Mawynn to capture the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title on Friday night at ONE Fight Night 6. But his tenure in the Singapore-based promotion started with a defeat to German standout Enriko Kehl nearly two years ago.

That debut defeat brought Allazov to a crossroads, where he realized that he would have to give more focus to his career if he wanted to succeed. The 29-year-old decided to do just that, and he had the perfect chance to prove himself when he was offered a place in the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix.

“Before this, I wasn’t 100 percent in my mentality. Now, I give 100% to my training every day,” Allazov explained. 

“After I lost, I talked about this tournament with my coach. My coach told me, ‘Chingiz, you’re one of the best boxers on the planet, but if you don’t focus your mind, you’ll lose the second time. Please focus 100%. We will go and we will win this tournament.’ 

“Nearly two years, I’ve focused 100%. Every day I trained. My mind was only focused on the fight with my opponent. Before, I focused on Sitthichai. Now, I focused on Superbon. For me, my opponent is no problem. I prepare 100%. My mentality is 100%, and I won.”

Allazov responded in fine fashion, earning consecutive first-round stoppages against Samy Sana, who he finished in a jaw-dropping 39 seconds, and “Smokin’” Jo Nattawut, respectively, in the first two rounds of the illustrious tournament. 

But it wasn’t until facing the legendary Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong in the Grand Prix Final that “Chinga” felt a breakthrough in his mentality.

“I fought Sitthichai nine years ago, and I lost in the extended round. Before my fight with Sitthichai this time, I said one more time I will focus 100%. My mind was ready, we trust the game plan, and my team trusted me,” he said.

“In the first round they saw that I can really make it happen. I am twice as fast as him. But I have a secret – with Sitthichai I worked maybe 50%. That’s the same for Superbon. For me, Sitthichai and Superbon are two of the best kickboxers on the planet. Before in the rankings, Superbon was in the first one, and I am in the second.”

Allazov won that fight and the tournament, and now with Superbon’s scalp in his bag, too, he gets to look ahead towards making the most of the momentum he’s riding. 

After claiming the World Title on Saturday, the immediate name on his mind was ONE Lightweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Regian Eersel.

But while he may have his eye on the two-sport titleholder, the champion is also happy to sit comfortably on his throne and wait for a new challenger to emerge. After all now that he’s king, it’s up to those willing to take him on to make themselves known.

“Now I go and focus on my family, my daughter and stay with my coach, my team and after that, we will talk about the future.”