“I was shaking” - Tawanchai admits social media backlash of bad performance affected him mentally

Reigning and undisputed ONE featherweight Muay Thai world champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai of Thailand admits that he had trouble dealing with the social media backlash that followed a disappointing knockout loss to Japanese star and former interim featherweight kickboxing titleholder Masaaki Noiri at ONE 172 earlier this year.

Tawanchai was the odds-on favorite heading into that matchup, but Noiri shocked the world and stopped the Thai phenom in the third round of the fight.

Speaking to various media at a recent presser in Thailand for his next fight, Tawanchai talked about having to deal with mental issues because of the criticism he had received.

The 26-year-old PK Saenchai Muay Thai gym representative said:

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"I've had a psychologist helping me. Before, during interviews, I was shaking and felt scared of the social media world. I went from someone who never feared anything to being paranoid about everything. Now, I'm much better. I'm relaxed, I don't overthink things, and I just try to do my job the best I can. This is the age of social media; it’s a double-edged sword, and you just have to accept it."

Tawanchai added:

"I just want to prove that I'm capable of more than what I showed."

Check out Tawanchai's comments below:

Needless to say, Tawanchai is motivated more than ever to prove he’s the best striker at featherweight, and fans won’t have to wait long to see him back in action.

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Tawanchai PK Saenchai returns to headline ONE Friday Fights 137 opposite Liu Mengyang

Tawanchai PK Saenchai will head back to kickboxing for his next fight when he takes on upset specialist ‘Spirit Dragon’ Liu Mengyang of China in a three-round showdown.

The two lock horns in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 137: Tawanchai vs. Liu, which takes place live from the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, Dec. 19, in Asia primetime.

Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action live and absolutely free on ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, the ONE Super App, and other digital platforms.

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding Tawanchai PK Saenchai’s next fight.

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Edited by Aziel Karthak