‘History Time’ – Undisputed Heavyweight King Anatoly Malykhin Seeks Unprecedented Third ONE World Title
Now just a few days removed from his dominant TKO victory over Arjan Bhullar, newly crowned ONE Heavyweight World Champion Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin is already targeting his next opponent.
The Russian knockout artist came into the main event of ONE Friday Fights 22 as the ONE Interim Heavyweight World Champion, and after brutalizing “Singh” over the course of two and a half rounds, he left as the undisputed king of ONE’s talent-laden heavyweight division.
The victory extended Malykhin’s pristine 13-0 professional record and his incredible 100 percent finishing rate, but it also earned him a second undisputed ONE World Title to go alongside his ONE Light Heavyweight World Championship.
Now a two-division ONE World Champion and widely regarded as one of the planet’s top pound-for-pound mixed martial artists, he was on cloud nine following the big win at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
He said:
“Let’s get ready to rumble. Thank you, each of you. Hugs to everyone!”
The 35-year-old slugger also extended his unending gratitude to his Russian fans and Raty Team training partners that made the trip from Russia to the Thai capital to watch their compatriot fight for undisputed gold.
For a humble man from Keremovo, Russia, the experience of becoming a global superstar and one of the world’s most feared and revered athletes has been surreal.
In fact, he sent a message to the fans that have been there for every step of the journey.
Malykhin said:
“When I was walking out, I saw all my guys – some came all the way from Russia to support me. Never in my life did I imagine that this would happen. It’s a really good feeling. I am grateful to each of you guys. I trained with many of you.”
Malykhin Calls Out De Ridder, Targets Third World Title
Never one to rest on his laurels, Anatoly Malykhin isn’t satisfied with just achieving champ-champ status.
Becoming a two-division king is a monumental accomplishment for any fighter, but “Sladkiy” is dreaming even bigger and has his sights set on a ONE World Title in a third weight division.
Just minutes after he dispatched Bhullar, the Russian called out reigning middleweight king and former foe Reinier de Ridder, recalling that “The Dutch Knight” had previously said that Malykhin’s interim crown was a “fake” title.
Malykhin said:
“De Ridder, [it’s] three-belt time. Hey, my brother, [my] two belts [are not] fake. Your belt [is] fake. Your belt [is] my belt.”
“Sladkiy” knocked out De Ridder last December to capture his light heavyweight crown, and now he has his sights set on an October showdown to win a truly unprecedented third belt.
Still pumped up from his unforgettable ONE Heavyweight World Title victory, Maylkhin sent one more shot at the middleweight titleholder.
He said:
“Let’s go [in] October, 93-kilos, three belts! History time!”
