“I’m known as the hardest hitter in the division” - Nico Carrillo confident he’ll smoke Jonathan Haggerty in dream matchup

Nico Carrillo is confident he would put away reigning two-sport titleholder Jonathan Haggerty in highlight-reel fashion should the two superstars ever square off.

Having earned three-straight knockouts inside the Circle, including a sensational come-from-behind KO of former ONE world champion Nong-O Hama, 'King of the North' currently sits as the No.1 ranked contender in the bantamweight Muay Thai division — a weight class currently ruled over by 'The General.'

On Friday, July 5, Carrillo will put that ranking on the line as he squares off with Thai striker Saemapetch Fairtex at ONE Fight Night 22 inside the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.

Should Carrillo come out on top, he will without a doubt be the next man in line to challenge Haggerty for his 26 pounds of gold. During a recent interview with Sky Sports MMA Club, the 'King of the North' offered his take on how things would go not if, but when the two meet.

"He’s been telling people how he wants to be remembered as one of the greatest athletes in the division," Carrillo said. "But, look, when he fought Lobo, he was almost knocked out? And, myself, I’m known as the hardest hitter in the division. And after that fight, you can see, he never said my name again. Never."

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Saemapetch can leapfrog the rankings with a big win over Nico Carrillo

Making his second appearance for the promotion in 2024, Saemapetch will be seeking his second-straight victory under the ONE banner and 128th overall when he meets Nico Carrillo inside the Mecca of Muay Thai.

Since making his promotional debut back in 2018, Saemapetch has faced some of the biggest names in the game, including Alaverdi Ramazanov, Nong-O Hama, Rodlek, Tawanchai, and Felipe Lobo. Currently, he is 2-2 in his last four outings but is coming off a big first-round knockout against Mohamed Younes Rabah at ONE Fight Night 19 in February.

Will Saemapetch score the upset and skyrocket himself up the rankings, or will Nico Carrillo further establish himself as the next man in line for Jonathan Haggerty's bantamweight Muay Thai crown?

ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE Fight Night 23 live and for free via Amazon Prime Video in U.S. primetime on Friday, July 5.