ONE Lightweight King Regian Eersel Says Nabil Anane Must Wait Until He's Gone To Achieve Three-Division Dream

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Ten-time ONE World Champion Regian Eersel has delivered a measured response to 21-year-old sensation Nabil Anane's bold proclamation about winning six belts across three separate divisions, including the lightweight gold currently held by the Surinamese-Dutch legend.

The 33-year-old Eersel stands as one of ONE Championship's most dominant forces in the higher weight categories, holding both the lightweight Muay Thai and former lightweight kickboxing World Titles. At 6-foot-2 with a 13-1 promotional record, the veteran has proven nearly unstoppable throughout his reign.

Anane, the reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion, has already begun his multi-division campaign. The towering 6-foot-4 Algerian-Thai fighter has competed in both bantamweight and featherweight divisions last year while building an impressive 8-1 promotional record.

Eersel addressed Anane's callout with a mixture of amusement and pragmatism. The lightweight king noted the young champion's shifting timeline for when this super-fight might actually materialize, suggesting the wait could extend far longer than initially promised.

"First of all, he called my name out in the media and said he wants to fight me. I thought maybe in months, not in two or three years. But later he said in another interview, it's going to take two or three years. I'm here, so I'll just wait," Eersel said.

Eersel didn't deny the young star's potential for greatness. He acknowledged that Anane possesses the tools necessary to achieve three-division glory, just not while Eersel remains on the throne.

"He has the potential for sure, but not when I'm champion. I have to be gone first. After that, yes, he definitely has the potential to become a three-weight World Champion," he stated.

Despite the competitive tension, Eersel identified a commonality between himself and Anane that sets them apart from other tall strikers. Both champions have mastered the ability to fight effectively in close quarters, a skill many lanky fighters struggle to develop.

"There are a lot of tall fighters who cannot fight in short distance. They close up and don't know what to do. I think Nabil and I are a few of the tall fighters who can fight in short distance," Eersel said.