Jae Woong Kim: No Chance Encounter

Jae Woong Kim hears a familiar sound knocking at his door.

“The Fighting God” will look to improve upon a 4-4 record in One Championship when he collides with John Lineker in a ONE on Prime Video 13 bantamweight feature this Friday at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Kim understands a victory over the American Top Team-trained Brazilian could raise his profile to previously unseen heights and do wonders for his career.

“I see this upcoming fight as a massive opportunity for me,” he said. “I believe it will be a great way to showcase my growth and progress. I’m preparing for it, thinking it will be a significant match that will change my future. I’m so excited about it. I look forward to showing how much I have improved.”

Kim, 30, steps back into the spotlight having lost three of his past four bouts. The former Top Fighting Championship titleholder last competed at ONE on Prime Video 6, where he dropped a unanimous decision to Shoko Sato on Jan. 13. His recent struggles aside, Kim remains as confident ever. Past wins over former ONE champions Kevin Belingon and Martin Nguyen only serve to boost his self-belief.

“I still vividly remember feeling tense and nervous during my matches against Martin and Kevin,” Kim said. “Having gone through those emotions before, I think I can overcome them well this time around.”

Lineker’s reputation precedes him. The onetime Jungle Fight and One Championship titlist has secured nearly half (17) of his 35 professional victories by knockout or technical knockout, nine of them inside one round. Lineker, aka “Hands of Stone,” last appeared on Feb. 24, when a corner stoppage in between the fourth and fifth rounds cost him a chance to reclaim bantamweight gold in his ONE on Prime Video 7 rematch with Fabricio Andrade.

“Lineker is someone I have always admired,” Kim said. “I was thrilled with the opportunity to face such a strong fighter. I think Lineker is really strong at striking, but his weakness is also his striking. I want to show my warrior’s fearless heart, which is unafraid of Lineker’s fists. I will withstand his powerful strikes.”

Time will tell whether or not Kim can turn pre-fight bravado into a career-altering result.

“Apart from strategy, I don’t want to overwhelm myself mentally,” he said. “It will be a difficult match, but I think it will also be fun. I’m doing my best, so I hope we both do our very best.”