Ilias Ennahachi says speed will be key factor against Hiroki Akimoto: “I’m too fast for these guys”

Former ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Ilias Ennahachi vows to come up with a win in his scheduled showdown this week against Hiroki Akimoto, banking he said on what he believes is his inherent speed advantage over his opponent.

The 28-year-old Moroccan-Dutch fighter will take on Akimoto of Japan in a bantamweight kickboxing showdown at ONE Friday Fights 81: Superbon vs. Nattawut on Sept. 27 at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, in line with his upcoming match against Akimoto, the former bantamweight kickboxing world champion, the S&B Gym standout spoke about what fans would be expecting from him and the match itself come fight night.

Ilias Ennahachi said:

"When you box with me, I can kick, when you kick, I can box. I'm too fast for these guys, even at bantamweight, I'm too fast. I move a lot, but I can also put pressure [on my opponents], so it's going to be a hard fight, but a great fight."

Watch the interview below:

Ilias Ennahachi was last in action in February last year when he made a winning bantamweight debut with a knockout victory in the second round over Aliasghar Ghodratisaraskan. The victory came on the heels of him vacating the flyweight kickboxing belt for his inability to make the weight limit of 135 pounds while hydrated.

Akimoto, meanwhile, is looking to wiggle out of a two-match skid and shore up his standing as bantamweight contender for the belt now held by new world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9.

Fans in North America can catch the action at ONE Friday Fights 81 via global pay-per-view through watch.onefc.com. For more information on it, visit the ONE Championship website.

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Ilias Ennahachi says he has high respect for upcoming opponent Hiroki Akimoto

Ilias Ennachachi said he has high regard for Hiroki Akimoto as a fighter but noted that he would not allow it to stop him from getting the win at ONE Friday Fights 81 on Sept. 27 at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

He shared this in the same interview with the South China Morning Post, highlighting that he is no way underestimating the abilities of his Japanese opponent, who, like him, is a former ONE world champion.

Ennahachi said:

"He is a good fighter. I respect him and don't underestimate him. I don't like to trash talk, so we'll see on that day how it's going to end."

ONE Friday Fights 81 will be the first fight of Ilias Ennahachi after 19 months and part of his push to return to the promotion's champions' roll.