Nico Carrillo Muay Thai: “Superlek’s one of them”

Nico Carrillo may not have lived in Thailand in his Muay Thai career, but he remains an astute student of the Art of Eight Limbs.

The Scottish knockout monster is one of the most learned fighters in the sport, and he believes Superlek Kiatmoo9 is on rarified air within the Muay Thai landscape.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Carrillo said he has nothing but respect for the man he will challenge for the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title at ONE 170 on Jan. 24, 2025, at Impact Arena.

Carrillo said that even though Muay Thai has gone global, there are still those special few Thai fighters who have separated themselves from their generation.

One such fighter, Carrillo said, is Superlek:

“But you just get these Thais that come around every now and then and they’re just special, and Superlek’s one of them. Even with the big gloves on, he’s been winning his fights in the stadiums before ONE was around.”

Superlek is already one of this generation’s best strikers, but he’s also on pace to become one of Muay Thai’s greatest-ever fighters.

‘The Kicking Machine’ holds a professional record of 139-29-4 and holds both the ONE flyweight kickboxing and bantamweight Muay Thai world titles.

The 29-year-old is also a WBC Muay Thai and two-division Lumpinee Stadium world champion.

Superlek, though, reached the peak of his powers when he began to wreak havoc in ONE Championship.

Holding a promotional record of 15-1, Superlek is the only person to beat fellow Thai megastar Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a striking match in ONE Championship.

Watch Nico Carrillo’s entire interview below:

Nico Carrillo says his sole focus is dethroning Superlek at ONE 170

Nico Carrillo will always keep his options open in his career, but he’s not one to look too far ahead especially when he’s set for the biggest fight of his life.

In an interview with the Leather’d Podcast, Carrillo said his sole focus is to take the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title from Superlek Kiatmoo9 when they face off at ONE 170 in Bangkok.

He said:

“Obviously, all my mindset is on this 145-pound gold. Absolutely. But I put my neck out in the light right now, I put my neck out in the line and I said once I win this I’m going to do this and I’m going to do that, and I will. But right now that belt is all my focus is on now.”