Rade Opacic is hungry for redemption at ONE Fight Night 11: Eersel vs. Menshikov on Prime Video.
The Serbian knockout artist will rematch Guto Inocente at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, June 9, and it’s his chance to make amends for the only loss on his ONE Championship record to date.
In May 2022, the Brazilian goliath caught Opacic with a liver shot that ended their match in the first round and snapped the Serbian’s incredible streak of four consecutive knockout victories.
But moments after the battle was over, the Belgrade resident made it known to ONE Championship officials that he was eager to run their heavyweight kickboxing clash back.
Opacic said:
“I told [ONE] right away after the fight that I wanted a rematch. I told that to my manager, too. If they said, ‘It’s the next fight,’ I would have accepted it. So, I’m happy that they have come with it now. I want to correct that mistake because I know I can do it. I want to set the record straight.”
It’s not losing that the Serbian has an issue with. In the explosive world of heavyweight kickboxing, everybody gets caught at some point, but he honestly thought he had Inocente’s number until the finishing shot ended the proceedings early.
Knowing how his opponent feels and moves, Opacic is confident that he can do himself justice by delivering a better performance against the Brazilian the second time around.
The 25-year-old explained:
“In the heavyweight division, one punch can end it. I felt like I was winning the fight. And then, he won. There is nothing wrong with that. He hit me, he got me, and that’s it.
“But in my mind, I knew that I could beat him. So, that’s what bothered me, and that’s why I wanted the rematch – because I know I’m the better fighter. I want to show it to the fans. That’s why this rematch is very, very important for me.”
Rade Opacic Better Equipped Than Ever For Guto Inocente Rematch
Fueled by emotion, Rade Opacic couldn’t wait to get his hands on Guto Inocente again. And though he didn’t receive an immediate rematch, he now believes it was a blessing in disguise.
Instead of a second clash with the Brazilian hulk, the Serbian faced Giannis Stoforidis at ONE on Prime Video 2 last October, and he put into practice some of the adjustments he had worked on to get back to winning ways.
Opacic revealed:
“The win over Stoforidis definitely did [put me in a better place] because he is a very respectable opponent, a very strong opponent, a really tough guy.
“I said to myself when the fight with Guto happened, ‘Ok, next fight, I’m going to be more calm.’ And that’s what I did. So, it’s a good thing that I can control my emotions and do it smartly.”
After that battle, the Serbian knockout artist also got the opportunity to rehabilitate some injuries that had been previously hampering him.
Now with his health restored, he intends to go full throttle against Inocente when the bell rings on June 9. Fitter, smarter, and healthier, Opacic is determined to even the score.
He said:
“In this time off, I healed all the [ongoing] injuries I had. I’m more experienced. I’m older. I did a lot of sparring with kickboxers and boxers, so I think it’s the perfect time for me to get the rematch with him.”
