JP Gallacher envisions nothing but a golden path for his prized ward Nico Carrillo in 2025. Carrillo has a shot at his first piece of ONE Championship gold when he takes on the surging Nabil Anane for the ONE interim bantamweight Muay Thai world title at ONE 170 on Jan. 24 at Impact Arena.
Gallacher and Carrillo have been hard at work in Bangkok since November acclimating to Thailand's tropical atmosphere ahead of ONE 170.
With all the preparation put in place, Gallacher is confident Carrillo would have his hands on that coveted 26-pound strap in ONE Championship's first numbered card of the year.
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Gallacher posted:
"2025, the year everything we touch turns to gold 🤴#strapseason #ONEChampionship."
Nico Carrillo was originally set to challenge dual world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 for the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title at ONE 170.
Things, however, took a turn after Superlek, who also holds the ONE flyweight kickboxing world title, pulled out of the card after sustaining an injury in training camp.
Superlek will now instead face the winner between Carrillo and Anane in a unification match for the undisputed ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title at ONE 172 on March 23 at the historic Saitama Super Arena in Japan.
Despite the sudden change, Carrillo maintained in previous social media posts that he's ready for ONE 170 and would stop at nothing to claim ONE Championship gold.
Carrillo is a perfect 4-0 in ONE Championship, with four knockout wins over Furkan Karabag, Muangthai PK Saenchai, former ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion Nong-O Hama, and Saemapetch Fairtex.
Nico Carrillo wants super fight against featherweight Muay Thai king Tawanchai
Nico Carrillo may be set for a shot at bantamweight glory, but he's also looking at the possibility of returning to featherweight and taking on one of the division's best fighters.
In a recent interview with ONE Championship, Carrillo said he wants to take on ONE featherweight Muay Thai world champion Tawanchai after he establishes a world championship reign at bantamweight.
"I'm the right size for Tawanchai. I think I’m close already. So, a couple of [title] defenses and I think we could light up the world with that fight.”