“I have to stay focused” - Alexis Nicolas says mother told him to stay grounded despite growing fame

After shocking the world at ONE Fight Night 21, Alexis Nicolas knows that he has to stay focused if he wants to keep the ONE lightweight kickboxing world championship around his waist.

In April, the undefeated French sensation stunned everyone with a show-stealing performance against former two-sport king Regian Eersel to claim his first ONE world championship. In the process, 'Barboza' snapped a 22-fight unbeaten streak held by Eersel that went back a whopping eight years.

Now, Nicolas will be tasked with proving to the world that his win over 'The Immortal' was no fluke when the two kickboxing stars run it back in the ONE Friday Fights 25 headliner on Friday, Oct. 4.

Knowing that Eersel will be coming in hot in hopes of reclaiming his kickboxing belt, Nicolas recognizes that he has to stay focused if he wants to leave the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok with his title intact.

“Everybody was proud in France," Nicolas told ONE Championship. "Now, a lot of people know me and recognize me in the street. My mother is so proud of me, but she knows that I have to stay focused. She told me I have to stay focused."

---

Alexis Nicolas wants that 50k bonus

While Alex Nicolas left the Mecca of Muay Thai earlier this year with one of the biggest prizes in all of combat sports—ONE Championship gold—the 26-year-old star was hoping to also take home a fat stack of cash.

"I expected for the bonus, you know, because it was a very big war," Nicolas said following his win over Eersel at ONE Fight Night 21. "He won 22 fights and never lost. So for me, it's a big performance to win this belt."

Unfortunately, Nicolas didn't bag a $50,000 bonus for his title-winning performance against 'The Immortal,' but he'll have an opportunity to rectify that when the two warriors collide inside the Madison Square Garden of the East.

Who comes out on top when two of kickboxing's most exciting strikers throw hands for a second time in 2024?

ONE Fight Night 25 will air live via Amazon Prime Video in the United States and Canada on Friday, October 4 in U.S. primetime.