"I need to prove myself" - Rising star Nabil Anane ready to take career to new heights against ranked Felipe Lobo
Nabil Anane is truly the dark horse in the stacked ONE bantamweight Muay Thai division. On August 2, live in US primetime, the towering Algerian-Thai teen will look to make a huge statement in his Prime Video debut at ONE Fight Night 24.
However, Anane must bring his A-Game against former world title challenger Felipe Lobo inside 'The Mecca of Muay Thai' Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Speaking to the South China Morning Post ahead of this massive opportunity, the 20-year-old phenom said he's ready to take the next leap and enter the top five by beating his third-ranked foe:
"This is one of my biggest fights. I need to prove myself."
Truth be told, Nabil Anane was thrown to the lion's den when he was fed to flyweight kickboxing king Superlek Kiatmoo9 in his promotional debut last year.
While most fighters his age will break after getting a reality check, it was the total opposite for the driven teenager. The 6-foot-3 warrior went on a rampage since, taking out proven veterans Nakrob Fairtex and Muangthai PK Saenchai.
Anane proved he's ready for the big boys in his last outing, where he put feared KO artist Kulabdam to sleep with a nasty finish.
Nabil Anane will be tested like never before vs. Felipe Lobo
Nabil Anane certainly oozes with potential, especially now that he's beginning to utilize his immense physical gifts.
It's scary to think that the 20-year-old has yet to scratch the surface of his full abilities, given how formidable he's been as of late.
Now, we'll see if Team Mehdi Zatout standout indeed belongs in the upper echelon of the 145-pound totem pole.
After all, Lobo is the perfect measuring stick to gauge Anane's improvements.
Despite his loss, 'Demolition Man' performed admirably and even came close to knocking out the division's king Jonathan Haggerty.
ONE Fight Nigth 24 is free for Prime Video subscribers in North America.