SUMMARY
- Alexis Nicolas took on Regian Eersel at ONE Fight Night 21.
- Nicolas proved many doubters wrong after he dethroned Eersel for the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing Championship.
A new king was crowned in the main event of ONE Fight Night 21 on Prime Video this past weekend. In only his second promotional outing, Alexis Nicolas dethroned longtime king Regian Eersel to win the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Championship on Friday, April 5, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
For many, it came as a huge shock. Eersel had gone unbeaten in his last 22 outings, 11 of which took place in ONE Championship. But all that changed when “Barboza” arrived. The unbeaten Frenchman dispatched Eersel by unanimous decision, and he insists that his resounding victory proves he’s now number one.
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“Before the fight, when my manager told me we would fight against Regian Eersel, I said yes. If I wasn’t ready for this fight I [would have never taken it]. Now, I have the belt, and I showed the world that I’m the best,” Nicolas said. “It was a very hard fight. He was very strong, and I know he was in pain in the first round. I was in pain too when I kicked his knee. So it was hard for both of us. We are two big champions, and the best man won tonight. And it was me.”
The crowning moment took Nicolas’ unbeaten record to a remarkable 24-0, making him one of the standout stars of ONE Championship. And given Eersel’s previous run on top, it’s hard to look past an immediate rematch.
Alexis Nicolas wants to cement his legacy in ONE Championship
ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion Alexis Nicolas stunned the striking world when he defeated former two-sport king Regian Eersel for the gold this past weekend at ONE Fight Night 21 on Prime Video. Despite the prolific milestone, “Barboza” isn’t resting on his laurels. Instead, he wants to take out all challengers and solidify himself as the best striker in the lightweight realm.
“What’s next is simple. I have the belt. I want to fight anyone who wants the belt. I know Eersel wants this belt again. I know all the world wants it,” Nicolas said. “This fight was very hard. I will rest a little bit because I’m tired and in a little bit of pain, and then after that, I will come back to training. I want to come back and fight. I’m hungry!”
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The Frenchman’s reign at the top of the lightweight kickboxing world brings many fresh fights to the table. Eersel’s prior reign had seen him take out many of the contenders. But styles make fights, and the new king could now see more interesting affairs take place.