Portuguese striker says reputations don't matter as he targets Prajanchai in Muay Thai or kickboxing after Zhang Peimian win
Rui Botelho says reputations do not matter in ONE Championship, and he's ready to prove it against Prajanchai PK Saenchai.
The Portuguese striker, coming off a bloody split-decision victory over Zhang Peimian in a strawweight kickboxing bout at ONE Friday Fights 126, has thrown down the gauntlet to the Thai superstar.
"Names don't win fights," Botelho told the Bangkok Post. "In combat sports, nobody is unbeatable. You saw [Giorgio] Petrosyan get knocked out by Superbon - nobody expected that. It's the same here.
"Maybe in kickboxing I have more advantage against Prajanchai, maybe not. But I can beat him in both. When it was Joseph Lasiri vs Prajanchai in Muay Thai, nobody was expecting that too in the first fight."
Prajanchai is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Jonathan Di Bella at ONE Fight Night 36 last week in Bangkok, where the Canadian-Italian reclaimed the undisputed strawweight kickboxing title. The rematch ended 15 months of frustration for Di Bella, who had lost a controversial decision to Prajanchai when the belt was on the line in June 2024.
Botelho was the man standing across from Di Bella just after that first meeting. He lost a unanimous decision to the now two-time champion in December 2024, but insists the performance did not reflect his real ability.
"When I fought Di Bella, it wasn't me in there," he said. "I wasn't focused. I had things going on in my life. This year, I've dedicated myself to me and my career. When I saw Di Bella fight Sam-A [Gaiyanghadao] and Prajanchai, I thought - that could have been me. Inside my heart, I know the Rui Botelho that fought Di Bella wasn't me. It was only my avatar."
Di Bella went on to dominate former two-sport champion Sam-A in Tokyo at ONE 172 in March, claiming the interim title and setting up last week's unification bout.
Prajanchai, who still holds the ONE strawweight Muay Thai crown, is expected to defend that belt next against Aliff Sor Dechapan in December - though Botelho would be happy to step in if needed, or wait in line if he must.
"I wouldn't mind fighting Prajanchai and then Di Bella, or Di Bella immediately," he said. "I just need eight weeks to get ready."
The 30-year-old has faced world-class names before, including Superlek Kiatmookao, and says he's never backed down from a challenge.
"I fought Superlek and lost by points. At the beginning of the first round, he hit me with an elbow that broke my coconut," Botelho said, laughing. "[Referee] Olivier Coste told me he thought I wouldn't get up. But I did - and I finished the fight. That's who I am."
His comeback win over Zhang in September showed that grit once again. The fight turned into a wild, bloody affair, but Botelho insists he was always in control.
"If there wasn't a knockdown in the second round, I think that they would have stopped the fight," he said. "The cut above his eye was so big, I could fit my finger inside. After 10 or 15 minutes I shook my head and there was still blood coming out of my hair - and it wasn't mine. I could smell the iron."
Now refocused, Botelho believes he's entering his prime and determined to climb back to title contention.
"My dream, like everyone's, is to be a world champion," he said. "If it's the next fight, perfect. If not, that's OK too. This is a marathon, not a sprint. I know it will happen."
And if it takes going through both Prajanchai and Di Bella to get there, he's happy to fight his way the long way round.
"I don't care who has the belt," he said. "When I get my title shot, it'll be the real Rui Botelho this time."