Scottish Muay Thai ace Nico Carrillo has his sights set on the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai title, and plans on making his case undeniable by adding the name of another Thai legend to his list of victims.
Carrillo takes on Thai star Saemapetch Fairtex at ONE Fight Night 23 at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, where he plans to claim another eye-catching victory to join his previous wins over the likes of Nong-O Hama and Seksan, and set up a potential Scotland vs. England world title clash with reigning ONE bantamweight Muay Thai and kickboxing champion Jonathan Haggerty later this year.
Ahead of his fight with Saemapetch, Carrillo chatted about the challenge ahead, his thoughts on the matchup, and his thoughts on what could potentially be next for the man known as “The King of the North.”
What did you learn in your victory over Nong-O Hama that you’ll bring to the ring against Saemapetch?
I know people are going to target my legs in the future, thinking they are weak. But believe me, they’re not. How many people has Nong-O finished with leg kicks? He couldn’t stop me. I can take it.
If people think that, it will only work in my favor as I can game plan for that. If they try and attack my legs, they’ll be getting punched right back. My game is better for fighting Nong-O.
As I said, taking those kicks from him and where he kicked me, I can now utilize that against the top guys and win titles by doing so.
What do you think of being labelled “The Thai Hunter” after knockouts of Nong-O and Muangthai on their home soil?
Honestly, it doesn’t even enter my mind now. I’ve fought two of the biggest Thai’s who draw in Lumpinee in Nong-O and Muangthai PK Saenchai, and I’ve beaten them both by stoppage.
I’ve now gained the respect of the Thais myself. When I walk out, I think a lot of the Thai fans will be cheering for me – not just their homeboy Saemapetch. If they keep giving me Thais to fight, I’ll keep putting them down. There’s nobody getting in my way.
What are your thoughts on Saemapetch’s recent performances?
He blows hot and cold. I believe on this platform, you can’t afford to be hot and cold. On this stage, you have time between fights, sometimes. Saemapetch hasn’t been fighting, like, 11 times a year. He has no excuse for his weak performances.
On the night, of course, anything can happen. But this has been going on for a few now in ONE for him. He’s only 29, I know he’s been fighting a lot of the time, though. But is his desire still there? Is it still burning like the first time he fought for the belt?
Regardless of that, I know I have a serious contender in front of me. At the end of the day, I’m holding my position. I’m number one. I’ve got something to defend, in my opinion. I don’t overlook him in any way. He’s up there as one of the hardest hitters in the division.
But I’m at a stage in my career where I haven’t been beaten in a long time, and I’m very confident in my abilities that I can handle anything in my fights. I’m only getting better with age. I’m like a fine wine.
What do you think are his strengths? How do your strengths compare?
He’s had 250 fights, and he’s fought the same way every time. In my opinion, he’s a bully fighter. When he gets going, he’s quite scary. But when he gets it in return, he crumbles. Whereas I’ve been on both sides of that where I’ve had it put on me and come back to win.
The pressure and getting hit hard doesn’t faze me. My heart doesn’t sink. I stay calm, whereas he panics.All that said, when he’s the aggressor, he’s awesome. He’s amazing. But when he’s pressured, he crumbles. They all crumble when they face me. Saemapetch will, just like everyone else. They all fall. Nobody has survived me yet.
What is your prediction for ONE Fight Night 23?
A knockout is coming. That’s always the plan. I don’t get paid overtime. It will be calculated, and it will come. I will find it. I always do.
How much attention are you paying to the Haggerty-Superlek fight in September?
I’ll be paying close attention when it comes to that fight. Whenever it comes to my division and the people I think I might be facing the future, I always pay attention. I’m a bit of a fight nerd that way. Because, who knows, it might not be Haggerty that I face for the title.
Jonathan Haggerty has been quite dismissive whenever your name is brought up. Do you feel like he’s underestimating you?
He’s not underestimating me at all. Haggerty knows I’m the hardest fight in this division. The reason he’s not saying my name is because he doesn’t want to build a fight with me. He knows it will be the end of him. That’s the honest truth.
He’s said in interviews that I would be his hardest fight. He knows that. But he would rather not say my name so that a fight between us doesn’t happen or get built up. At this point, I feel like I’m the best fighter in the world. I’m the most hard-working. All I need is for ONE to make the right matchups, put me on the platform and let me prove it because I have done that so far every single time.
When I go and beat Saemapetch and you look at my resume and I’ve beaten fighters like him, Nong-O, Seksan, and others, the only thing that says I’m not the best in the world is a golden strap.
