ONE Fight Night 23: Saemapetch won't underestimate Nico Carrillo's KO power in four-ounce gloves: "It's up to me to neutralize his game"

Saemapetch Fairtex understands the risk of fighting Nico Carrillo in Muay Thai.

In April 2023, Carrillo made his ONE Championship debut, defeating Furkan Karabag by a third-round knockout. Since then, 'King of the North' has extended his promotional record to 3-0 with knockout wins against Muangthai PK Saenchai and Nong-O, making him the No.1-ranked bantamweight Muay Thai fighter.

On Friday, July 5, Carrillo returns to action against fourth-ranked Saemapetch, who's fought several world-class fighters under the ONE banner. Heading into ONE Fight Night 23, the hard-hitting Thai striker isn't overlooking 'King of the North,' as he had this to say during an interview with the promotion:

"But even though he doesn't have as many fights as me, in the ring, with four-ounce small gloves, the first who makes a mistake can be knocked down. It's up to me to neutralize his game."

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ONE Fight Night 23 will take place inside the legendary combat sports venue of Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.

The July 5 event featuring Nico Carrillo vs Saemapetch can be seen live and for free by North American and Canadian viewers with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.

What's at stake between Saemapetch and Nico Carrillo?

Following his win against Nong-O, Nico Carrillo pursued a bantamweight Muay Thai title shot against two-division world champion Jonathan Haggerty.

Instead, 'The General' signed on for a super-fight against ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek, which goes down on September 6 at ONE 168: Denver.

Although the fight didn't materialize, Haggerty is interested in a future matchup against Carrillo. Therefore, the stakes between 'King of the North' and Saemapetch at ONE Fight Night 23 are high, as the winner could fight the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai king later this year.

It should be noted that Carrillo has a higher chance of earning a title shot on Friday due to his 29-year-old opponent coming off only one win.

Nonetheless, an impressive performance against the number one-ranked fighter could create a massive opportunity for the hard-hitting Thai striker.

About the author

Jake Foley is a journalist at Sportskeeda, specializing in covering all forms of combat sports, including MMA, Boxing, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai. His passion is ignited by the exceptional fusion of physical and mental skills demanded by world-class fighters in these sports. Jake is captivated by the intricate mix of fierce determination and a modest mindset exhibited by athletes in these disciplines. He also finds the atmosphere of major championships, like the epic clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, truly unparalleled.

Jake has earned his UFC credentials to cover the major events for Sportskeeda and has conducted several interviews.

Jake supports various teams across several professional sports, including the Las Vegas Raiders, Inter Miami, Norwich City, Miami Marlins, and Las Vegas Golden Knights. The sports moment Jake will never forget is Jon Jones dismantling Vladimir Matyushenko.

Since joining the SportsKeeda team, Jake has written 400 articles covering several MMA promotions, including the UFC and ONE Championship. He continues to work hard to maintain his journalistic integrity and tell the stories of fighters worldwide.

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Edited by C. Naik