‘I Showed The World That I’m The Best’ – Alexis Nicolas Filled With Pride After World Title Upset Of Regian Eersel
Alexis “Barboza” Nicolas shocked fans across the globe when he snapped Regian “The Immortal” Eersel’s incredible reign of dominance last Friday, April 5.
The French phenom took Eersel’s ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title with a unanimous decision after five hard-fought rounds at ONE Fight Night 21 on Prime Video, ending “The Immortal’s” eight-year unbeaten streak and his five-year stranglehold on the division.
Eersel entered as both the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion, so few gave Nicolas a chance ahead of the matchup at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
However, he believed in himself and knew he could deliver an upset. Afterward, “Barboza” reflected on his historic win and his newfound status as a ONE World Champion.
He told onefc.com:
“Before the fight, when my manager told me we would fight against Regian Eersel, I said yes. If I wasn’t ready for this fight I [would have never taken it]. Now, I have the belt, and I showed the world that I’m the best.
“I didn’t win against just anyone – I won against Regian Eersel, the legend. And I’m very proud. I worked hard. It was a crazy fight. It’s a very, very good feeling.”
Although it was a closely contested fight, Nicolas had the most telling moments. He smashed Eersel’s legs with heavy low kicks from the get-go and even dropped the teak-tough Surinamese superstar in round two.
As always, Eersel’s resilience saw him push through, while “Barboza” showed his mettle to keep going despite the defending king’s resurgence.
Both men were feeling the effects of the intense battle when the final bell rang, but Nicolas was confident he had secured the victory:
“I felt I did enough to win. I felt [I was close to knocking him out] after the first round because I worked hard. That was the game plan. The calf kick was the strategy, and I saw he wasn’t ready for this.
“It was a very hard fight. He was very strong, and I know he was in pain in the first round. I was in pain too when I kicked his knee. So it was hard for both of us. We are two big champions, and the best man won tonight. And it was me.”
Alexis Nicolas: ‘I Want To Fight Anyone Who Wants The Belt’
After entering as the underdog, Alexis Nicolas validated his shot at the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title with an remarkable performance.
“Barboza” ultimately took the gold from Regian Eersel, but it wasn’t just about the belt for the 25-year-old Frenchman.
Above all, he felt immense satisfaction from delivering on his hard work and showing his compatriots that he’s one of the most elite strikers on the planet.
Nicolas said:
“This belt is not the real [accomplishment] tonight. The real win is I won the hearts of all the French people. All my fans now know that I’m the best. I worked hard, and I’m very proud.
“So that’s my real happiness tonight – bringing this belt to my country, my family, Mahmoudi Gym, and all my team.”
Now boasting a stunning 24-0 professional slate along with the most coveted prize in kickboxing, Nicolas will not be short of potential challengers in the coming months.
First on his agenda is healing up after the hard battle in Bangkok, but after that, he’s willing to face anybody who believes they can dethrone him.
“Barboza” added:
“What’s next is simple. I have the belt. I want to fight anyone who wants the belt. I know Eersel wants this belt again. I know all the world wants it.
“This fight was very hard. I will rest a little bit because I’m tired and in a little bit of pain, and then after that, I will come back to training. I want to come back and fight. I’m hungry!”
