Nabil Anane has big dreams, but Regian Eersel has even bigger experience.
The ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Champion was asked about the 21-year-old bantamweight king's stated ambition to claim six titles across three divisions, a goal that would eventually require going through one of the most decorated fighters in ONE Championship history.
Eersel, a 10-time ONE World Champion and former ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion, has heard the talk.
He listened carefully, appreciated the boldness, and then delivered his verdict with the quiet confidence of a man who has been at the top of the sport for years.
"First of all, he called my name out in the media and said he wants to fight me. I thought maybe in months, not in two or three years. But later he said in another interview, it's going to take two or three years. I'm here, so I'll just wait," the Surinamese-Dutchman said.
At 33 years old, Eersel has built a 13-1 ONE record by systematically dismantling every challenger the lightweight division has produced. He stands 6 feet 2 and has long been considered one of the most technically complete fighters in the higher weight categories.
Anane, who holds an 8-1 promotional record and has been testing himself in featherweight kickboxing alongside his bantamweight Muay Thai title reign, is clearly building toward something significant.
Eersel does not dispute that. What he disputes is the idea that Anane's rise can happen on anyone's timeline but his own.
"He has the potential for sure, but not when I'm champion. I have to be gone first. After that, yes, he definitely has the potential to become a three-weight World Champion," Eersel said.
At 6 feet 4, Anane is one of the few fighters who would match him for height and reach. Yet size alone has never been enough to trouble the champion.
"There are a lot of tall fighters who cannot fight in short distance. I think Nabil and I are a few of the tall fighters who can fight in short distance," Eersel said.
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