Jo Nattawut Says Size Will Not Matter Against George Mann In Singapore

Kickboxing star “Smokin” Jo Nattawut (67-7-2) returns to ONE Super Series looking to score another impressive victory under the ONE Championship banner.

In his last contest, the 29-year-old Thai produced a superb display to stop Yohann Fairtex Drai with punches at ONE: PURSUIT OF POWER in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

After that thrilling performance, the two-division Lion Fight World Champion will take on Scotland’s George Mann (31-5) in a Muay Thai contest at ONE: HEART OF THE LION in Singapore this Friday, 9 November.

Nattawut is heading into the contest on a wave of confidence after his first-round finish of Drai.

“It felt really good to win that bout,” the two-division Lion Fight World Champion says.

“I had a really good training camp and a good game plan. I was able to fly early to Thailand to train before that bout, which helped with my preparation.

“I changed the way I train and travel, and it showed in the match.”

The contest was a little different to most of Nattawut’s bouts, as it required him to wear 4-ounce mixed martial arts gloves. The Thai says he felt the power difference in his strikes, and had to adapt his style accordingly.

“[The smaller gloves were] really powerful. The defence is different, so you have to adapt, but it feels like if I land my punches, my opponent is going to sleep.”

“Smokin” Jo will don smaller gloves again when he takes on Mann in Singapore, and he is targeting a similar performance.

His opponent, a 20-year-old WMC Muay Thai World Champion, will concede a significant experience advantage to the Thai, but will stand 16 centimetres taller.

Nattawut is not intimidated by his opponent’s stature and says his task is a straightforward one.

“I need to block his left kick, and that’s it,” he says.

“I have more power than him. I will do my normal thing – I will walk forward and throw everything I’ve got. He’s going to go to sleep.”