Team Lakay’s Danny “The King” Kingad has faced the best of the ONE Championship flyweight division, but there is one specific match that he believes brought out the best in him.
At ONE: CENTURY PART I in October 2019, Kingad shared the circle with the legendary Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship Final, and it was hands down his toughest contest ever.
“I have faced a lot in the flyweight division, but my match against DJ, that’s what I would consider the toughest fight I’ve been in,” Kingad said.
“I knew coming in he was fast. I was a fan of him, and I really prepared for that aspect, but when you’re in there with him, his speed is different. You really have to be there to experience it yourself.”
Heading into his showdown with Johnson, Kingad was on a six-match win streak. He beat Tatsumitsu "The Sweeper" Wada, Yuya "Little Piranha" Wakamatsu, and Reece “Lightning” McLaren, all of whom are quality opponents in their own right.
However, Kingad believes Johnson is a different beast altogether.
“I was trying to catch him with something, or match his intensity inside the Circle, but he was just simply too quick. I trained really hard for that match knowing what was at stake for me if I won the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix,” he said.
“But man, was he tough. He was really quick, and I believe that was the biggest difference in our match.”
But at age 24, the bout only toughened “The King” up for the future, where he will hopefully get another crack at the legendary American.
“That match taught me a lot, which I am thankful for. I am more challenged to push myself during training. I keep on telling myself that if DJ can do it, so can I. I just have to be more dedicated in training,” Kingad said.
“Now it’s on to the next one. I have to learn from my previous matches, and if I continue to win I know we’ll face each other again. When the time comes, I’ll do everything to make sure it’s my turn to win.”
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