‘He Didn’t Want To Be There’

Liam Harrison thinks Superlek ought to have by no means fought at ONE 172.

ONE Championship’s extremely anticipated return to Japan was set to function 5 huge ONE world championship bouts, together with a title unification conflict between ONE bantamweight Muay Thai titleholder Superlek and interim champ Nabil Anane. Nonetheless, Superlek failed to fulfill the hydration necessities for the struggle. Because of this, Superlek was stripped of his 26 kilos of gold.

Usually, the struggle would transfer ahead as scheduled, however with solely the athlete who made weight and hydration eligible to win the belt. That was not the case this time round. As a substitute, the competition was renegotiated as a three-round catchweight struggle.

No clarification was provided till the ONE 172 post-fight press convention, when CEO Chatri Sityodtong revealed that Superlek “refused to struggle” a five-rounder with gold up for grabs.

‘The Kicking Machine’ in the end went on to struggle, delivering probably the most lackluster efficiency of his run in ONE. He got here up quick on the scorecards, surrendering a unanimous choice to Anane and seeing his 12-fight win streak snapped.

“Pay attention, I spoke to some individuals in Superlek’s camp, and I don’t suppose he ought to have taken that struggle,” Harrison instructed the Bangkok Put up. “I’m not gonna go into the the reason why, however I spoke to some individuals. It’s not my place to say or something, however I don’t suppose he ought to have ever been preventing. 

“He proved that in his efficiency. Now whether or not he was 100 per cent or not, would he have overwhelmed Nabil that evening or not? I don’t know, as a result of Nabil appeared unbelievable.”

Superlek beforehand defeated Nabil Anane in his promotional debut at ONE Friday Fights 22 again in June 2023. Initially, ‘The Kicking Machine’ was imagined to defend his bantamweight Muay Thai title in opposition to Nico Carrillo at ONE 170 in January, however an damage pressured him to bow out of the bout. Anane took his place, squaring off with Carrillo for the ONE interim bantamweight Muay Thai title, the winner set to face Superlek contained in the Saitama Tremendous Area.

Anane shocked ‘The King of the North,’ KO’ing Carrillo within the opening spherical, and set the stage for a rematch with the Thai famous person.

“Superlek’s my buddy. I’m certain the reasoning will come out afterwards, however I don’t need to repeat what people who find themselves near him have instructed me,” Harrison added. “Spherical three, you possibly can inform he didn’t need to be there. He was going by means of the motions. Nabil was miles forward. Superlek wasn’t even making an attempt. He wasn’t kicking, no sport plan, however there’s causes for that I’ve heard behind the scenes. 

“Hopefully, we get a five-round rematch and we see a hungry, match Superlek as a result of you all the time get a 100 per cent hungry Nabil today. He’s younger, he’s acquired all of the assist of the Thais and all the things behind him – he’s gonna be arduous to beat. Everybody loves him. He’s acquired an ideal coach with Mehdi Zatout.”

Harrison is uncertain anybody can beat nabil anane proper now, together with superlek

Understandably, Anane was not too thrilled about beating Superlek solely to go away with nothing greater than one other checkmark within the win column. Throughout the press occasion, he might be seen having a reasonably animated dialog with Chatri Sityodtong, although the small print of their talks have been by no means disclosed.

“I don’t know why he wasn’t simply given a five-round struggle and topped champion,” Harrison continued. “He’s labored his a** off, after which to get it taken away like that on the final minute, I’m not fairly certain what was occurring till Chatri mentioned afterwards Superlek wasn’t even gonna struggle.

“Chatri is the boss and will have mentioned, ‘Alright, don’t struggle’, pay Nabil, not pay Superlek, and simply improve him. However clearly they wanted the struggle on the cardboard, so it’s a tough one. However hopefully we get handled to a five-round struggle like we must always now, and a 100% match Superlek turns up firing on all cylinders.

“I’m undecided anybody in that division is gonna be capable of beat Nabil. He’s an absolute nightmare. 100% Superlek in all probability can however anybody else I simply don’t see how they’ll get close to him and get previous that snap on the top of his punches. In the event that they do, they stroll straight onto getting kneed within the face.”