ONE Championship Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion Alexis Nicolas knows he is a man with a target on his back after taking the title last weekend.
French-Algerian Nicolas defeated the long-standing two-sport world champion Regian Eersel at ONE Fight Night 21 but recognises he has little time to bask in the glory of his win.
For one, he will have an angry Surinamese fighter wanting to take his title back – but even behind Eersel there is a lengthy list of top competitors forming.
“You know, I will rest a little bit because I’m tired and then after that I will come back to training,” explained the 25-year-old. “I know this fight was very hard, I know Eersel wants this belt again. I know all the world wants this belt. Now I can sleep, and after that I want to come back and fight now. I’m hungry.”
Eersel had ridden a 22-fight win streak into the fight against Nicolas, who was making just his second appearance in ONE Championship. However, after dominating the divisions of Europe, it was the challenger who was able to deal better with deep waters of a five-round war to claim the crown.
Whether his next fight is a rematch with Eersel, or another lightweight contender, Nicolas is not concerned.
“It’s simple. I have the belt. I want to fight against anyone who wants the belt.”
One thing not on his radar at the moment however, is chasing Eersel’s other title, the lightweight Muay Thai crown – for now he will be sticking to the kickboxing division.
“It’s not my target right now,” he said. “I know he has a big advantage in Muay Thai because I’m from savate, it’s another discipline, I don’t have elbows. But I worked hard every day. So we will see. It’s not my target. I want to defend my belt for the first time, and we’ll see after.”
Nicolas has a burgeoning following in both France and Algeria and he hopes that some of his work can inspire those who look up to him, and drive them to be the best they can be.
“I represent all the kids who have a dream and [who want to] work hard for this dream, to represent all the people who grew up without their father,” he said. “I’m a man with big values and that’s what I represent.”
