'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Top-ranked kickboxing star Hiroki Akimoto will take his first step toward reclaiming the ONE bantamweight kickboxing world championship on Friday, May 3.
Two years removed from his split decision loss to Petchtanong Petchfergus at ONE 163, the 31-year-old Japanese star heads to the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium for a clash with Chinese standout Wei Rui.
But first, ONE Championship is looking back at one of Akimoto's most impressive performances inside the circle.
Taking the stage at ONE: Winter Warriors in December 2021, Akimoto went toe-to-toe with another Chinese star — Qui Jianliang — in a three-round war that had fight fans on the edge of their seat:
"Before former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Hiroki Akimoto makes his long-awaited return against Chinese superstar Wei Rui at ONE Fight Night 22 on Prime Video on May 3, watch him go head-to-head with another top Chinese kickboxer in Qiu Jianliang!"
After nine minutes of intense action, Hiroki Akimoto came out on top via unanimous decision, setting the stage for his world title-winning performance against Capitan Petchyindee three months later.
Hiroki Akimoto makes his return against accomplished newcomer Wei Rui at ONE Fight Night 22
Welcoming Akimoto back to the circle will be Wei Rui, a debuting superstar ready to make a place in the promotion's bantamweight kickboxing division.
In 2018, Wei captured the Glory of Heroes junior featherweight world title. Before that, he claimed the K-1 lightweight championship and achieved multiple accolades under the Wu Lin Feng banner between 2013 and 2015. In 2017, he was dubbed Combat Press Kickboxing Awards' Breakout Fighter of the Year. Three years later, he was their Male Fighter of the Year.
Who comes out on top when two of kickboxing's brightest stars square off with serious ONE world title implications?
ONE Championship fans in the United States can watch ONE Fight Night 22 live and for free via Amazon Prime Video in U.S. primetime on Friday, May 3.
