Takeru Segawa is not walking away from the sport quietly. Instead, he’s choosing to go out on his own terms with one final statement fight that defines everything his career has stood for.
The Japanese kickboxing icon headlines ONE SAMURAI 1 on April 29 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, where he faces Rodtang Jitmuangnon for the interim flyweight kickboxing world title. It’s a high-stakes rematch and the perfect stage for Takeru’s final chapter.
Retirement, however, wasn’t a rushed decision. Takeru revealed that he had been thinking about it for years, carefully weighing his physical condition against his competitive drive.
“Well, regarding my retirement, actually, I didn’t have the feeling of retirement yet,” Takeru said. “But I had been thinking about when would be the right timing to retire for about three or four years. The condition of my body was my top consideration.”
“So the moment when I thought that this would truly be the last time I could fight at my strongest condition was probably about a year ago.”
For a fighter built on intensity and relentless pressure, staying past his peak was never an option. Takeru made it clear he could continue—but chose not to.
“If I wanted to continue, I think I probably still could,” he said. “But I thought this might be the last time I can put myself in my strongest condition, so I decided to retire this time.”
The motivation behind his final fight is personal. His first meeting with Rodtang Jitmuangnon ended quickly, lasting just 80 seconds. That loss stayed with him and fueled his push for a rematch.
“The essence of my fighting style is a slugfest, and I’ve always wanted to have that kind of fight with Rodtang,” Takeru explained. “The last fight, I couldn’t even reach that point and lost. So, this is why I believed I must fight Rodtang one more time.”
Now, everything comes down to April 29. For Takeru, this isn’t just another fight—it’s the closing chapter of a legendary career.
“I still have demanding training sessions despite my decision,” he said. “The fight is not over, so I don’t have sadness or similar feelings associated with retirement.”
“Because the next match will be the last, I’m spending each day so that I can give everything I have and retire without any regrets.”
