Coopar Royal has made a statement in his ONE Championship debut.
“Rush” was clinical as he made short work of opponent Ely Fernandez at ONE Friday Fights 40 on November 10.
Dressed as a ninja turtle, Royal walked confidently to the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium ring in Bangkok, Thailand and looked loose and relaxed in the early going of the fight.
The 24-year-old exchanged kicks with Fernandez, before the Aussie locked his foe into the clinch and began unloading knees.
Royal appeared to hurt Fernandez during the barrage, forcing the Filipino to shoot for a takedown in a bid to clear the cobwebs.
But Royal framed off and spun to the back, before latching on to the neck. Once his arm was under Fernandez’s chin, he dropped down for the rear-naked choke. The tap came at just 1:38 of the opening round.
In his post-fight interview with ONE commentator Mitch Chilson, Royal addressed ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong and asked for a spot on the promotion’s rumoured return to Japan in January.
With the victory, Royal improves to 4-0 as a professional and all but ensured himself another opportunity to impress the ONE brass in the near future.
Fernandez falls to 6-3 and had his four-fight win streak snapped.
