Mohamed Younes Rabah defeated Saemapetch Fairtex last December, but with the controversy surrounding the finish, the two striking stars will run it back on Friday, February 16, at ONE Fight Night 19.
The rematch will be the Algerians's chance to prove the first go-around was no fluke.
"What excites me most about this fight is the opportunity to prove myself once again, to leave no stone unturned in silencing the doubters. That's the real thrill for me in this one," Rabah told ONE.
"I've already apologized for that knee incident. It wasn't intentional. It just happened in the heat of the moment. However, if you watch the entire fight, you'll see that I had already dropped him once. Honestly, even if that knee incident hadn't occurred, I don't think it would have changed the outcome of the fight."
"The Eagle" believes he is even more ready in the rematch. Scoring the finish after coming in on short notice, Rabah has now had a full training camp to prepare for Saemapetch inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
"Everything's different this time around. In my last fight, it was all about scrambling to get ready with just a week's notice, between game planning and making weight," the Algerian explained.
"But now, I've had a full camp to prepare properly. From securing the right sparring partners to ensuring I hit weight correctly, everything's been dialed in. Technically, physically, and tactically, I've made significant adjustments. And mentally, I'm in a much better place. I feel completely ready for this fight."
"It won't be any different from the last fight. I'll just remove that last knee, but other than that, the KO is inevitable. It's going to be a first-round KO."
Although Rabah is sure he will get another knockout against the Thai star, he is aware of how powerful the Fairtex Gym star's punches can be when they land.
"The Eagle" will be mindful and attempt to be more tactical to stop Saemapetch's aggressive attacks.
"Saemapetch has got a solid left hand, and he times it pretty effectively. To deal with that, I've been focusing on utilizing angles and constantly moving to his right to disrupt his rhythm and neutralize his strengths," Rabah detailed.
"I believe my biggest advantage in this fight lies in my mental strength. On a technical level, I have the height and reach advantage. I can control the distance in this fight, and when it comes to close range, that dog in me is always ready for a war."
With another sterling knockout, Rabah can expect to assert himself into the title hunt. That is why affirming his last performance by repeating a KO is so important.
Confidence is not lacking as Rabah calls his shot for ONE Fight Night 19.
"I can see many holes in his game. He has a tendency of dropping his hands, which will get him in trouble against someone like me. Additionally, his overall defense seems lacking, and he has a soft chin that I can crack," Rabah said.
ONE Fight Night 19 airs live on Friday, February 16, on Prime Video. The action gets underway at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST and is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.