Sor Rungvisai not taking unheralded Diaz lightly

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai of Thailand faces off with Iran Diaz of Mexico during their open workout on Tuesday at Nakornloung Promotion Gym in Thailand. Sor Rungvisai will be defending his WBC super flyweight belt against Diaz in the main event of ONE: Kingdom of Heroes on October 6 at Impact Arena in Thailand. Photo from ONE Championship

NONTHABURI—Srisaket Sor Rungvisai is the overwhelming favorite against Iran Diaz but there’s no hint of complacency from the Thai boxing champion ahead of his title defense.

“I think Diaz is a great fighter. I don’t think it will be an easy fight at all,” Sor Rungvisai said through his interpreter and promoter Thainchai Pisitwuttinan during his open workout at Nakornloung Promotion Gym in Thailand.

“I’ve seen him fight. He has a difficult style to fight with so I am not taking him lightly.”

Sor Rungvisai (46-4-1, 41 KOs), who is defending his WBC super flyweight title for the third time, will be headlining ONE Championship’s first foray in boxing on October 6 in the main event of the Kingdom of Heroes event at Impact Arena in Thailand.

Meanwhile, it will be Diaz’s (14-2-3, 6 KOs) first shot at a world title.

Diaz, who describes himself as “intelligent” inside the ring, also hasn’t fought outside of Mexico since turning pro in 2008.

The 31-year-old Sor Rungvisai is coming off a first-round knockout of an overmatched Young Gil Bae of South Korea in a non-title fight just last July 21 in Thailand.

He hasn’t suffered a loss in his last 19 fights and is determined to stretch his streak for as long as he can.

“I will give it all in the gym and that will take care of itself.”and there’s no way that I will let my belt go outside Thailand. I am 100 percent confident that I will win.”