Superlek Kiatmoo9’s challenge for the ONE flyweight kickboxing world title took a sudden shift after Ilias Ennahachi vacated the strap more than a week before ONE Fight Night 6 on Prime Video.
ONE Championship announced in an Instagram post that Spain’s Daniel Puertas will replace Ennahachi in the co-main event of the Bangkok card on January 13.
Ennahachi, who won the ONE flyweight kickboxing world title in his August 2019 debut, vacated the strap after failing to make the 135-pound limit while hydrated.
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ONE Championship posted on Instagram:
“Ilias Ennahachi has vacated the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship due to an inability to make the flyweight 135-pound limit while hydrated. As a result, Superlek Kiatmoo9 will now face off with Daniel Puertas for the vacant World Title.”
After a brilliant showing in the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix, Superlek returns to the kickboxing division in hopes of riding his momentum over to a second sport. He last competed in kickboxing against Ennahachi in the Dutch striker’s second world title defense in 2021.
Superlek is also carrying a ton of momentum heading into Bangkok. The Thai star is on a three-fight winning streak and is coming off a split decision win over rival Panpayak Jitmuangnon at ONE 164.
Puertas, meanwhile, is one of Europe's best strikers and is a two-time ISKA kickboxing champion. The Spanish fighter out of Malaga is coming off a split decision win over China’s Jidou Yibu at ONE: Full Circle in February 2022.
Relive Superlek Kiatmoo9’s path to second world title challenge
Superlek Kiatmoo9 is considered one of the best strikers of his generation. His entry into ONE Championship certainly added absolute firepower to the promotion’s stacked Muay Thai roster.
The 27-year-old has held four Muay Thai world titles, including two belts from the famed Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.
He had a blistering start to his ONE Championship career, going 4-0 in his first four fights until he ran into the wall that was Ilias Ennahachi at ONE: Fists of Fury in February 2021.
Nevertheless, Superlek bounced back with three straight wins that culminated in a split decision win over rival Panpayak Jitmuangnon at ONE 164 in December 2022.