“I’ll be back” - Alexis Nicolas reflects on losing lightweight kickboxing throne, vows to come back even better than before
It wasn't the end Alexis Nicolas dreamed of for his first world title defense.
Nicolas was on the cusp of greatness when he defended the ONE lightweight kickboxing world title against its former holder, Regian Eersel, in the main event of ONE Fight Night 25 at Lumpinee Stadium.
Despite putting his best foot forward, Nicolas relinquished the strap to the future legend via unanimous decision in Bangkok.
Nicolas was gutted after the defeat, the first of his professional career, but he vowed to return stronger and carry his home nation of France to greater heights in kickboxing.
Taking to Instagram, Alexis Nicolas wrote:
"24-1. Wasn't my night, I'll be back!! 🏆 It's the story of my life 💭 This life is hard, but it's the life I chose❤️🙌. Thanks to those who believe in me, it's just a step #ToutDroit"
Nicolas was still as crafty as ever in his world title rematch against Eersel, and he tried to use the distance as best as he could during the contest.
Eersel, however, reached a whole new level and was hellbent on reclaiming the ONE lightweight kickboxing world title from the only man to beat him in ONE Championship.
'The Immortal', who also holds the ONE lightweight Muay Thai world title, was quicker and stronger than Nicolas in every exchange and routinely caught the French star upstairs with counters.
In the latter rounds, Nicolas decided to push the pace only to fall into the traps that Eersel carefully and systematically laid out.
Alexis Nicolas says he felt massive love from France after he won the lightweight kickboxing strap at ONE Fight Night 21
It's preposterous to say that Alexis Nicolas was an overnight success when he beat the seemingly invincible Regian Eersel at ONE Fight Night 21 earlier this year.
Nicolas was already a made man even before he scored the improbable win over Eersel, but the reception he got when he beat 'The Immortal' in April this year was phenomenal.
In a previous interview with the South China Morning Post, Nicolas recalled how French fans embraced him after he became the ONE lightweight kickboxing world champion:
"Yeah, France is very proud of me. We had Cedric Doumbe, but now he is an MMA fighter. So now I am the ambassador of kickboxing. They're proud, but I have to do more. French people are very hard to gain their respect for us athletes, so I have to fight more and more and become a superstar."
Watch Nicolas' entire interview below: