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James Goyder

Undefeated ONE Championship fighter Ilias Ennahachi has demanded more respect for his achievements so far.
The Dutch-Moroccan kickboxer is the only man to beat Superlek Kiatmoo9 in a ONE Championship bout, which looks all the more impressive given the Thai fighter’s form.
Ennahachi never lost his flyweight title in the ring and was only forced to vacate it because of issues with weight.
And, ahead of his battle with Hiroki Akimoto at ONE Friday Fights 81 next week, he said his impressive resume has not been appreciated enough.
“I beat Superlek,” Ennahachi said. “Who else can say ‘I beat Superlek’, what other fighter in ONE Championship?

“Only me. They don’t give me the credit. I see guys that I beat fighting and they give them credit but I beat these guys, and they don’t give me (credit).”
Ennahachi took two years out after returning his flyweight title and made his comeback in February 2023 with a knockout victory over Aliasghar Ghodratisaraskan out in the second round at ONE Friday Fights 6.
That was Ennahachi’s bantamweight debut and he decided to make the move because he felt trying to make the flyweight limit was diminishing his effectiveness as a fighter.
“In flyweight I focused more on my weight than on my fight,” Ennahachi said. “I am now 66 kilograms (just under ONE Championship’s bantamweight limit) so I don’t need to focus on the weight – only on my fight which is what I want. In bantamweight I feel much stronger.”
Superlek showed that he can move seamlessly between flyweight and bantamweight with his win over Jonathan Haggerty, who still holds the kickboxing title, at ONE 168 earlier this month; and Ennahachi has the Englishman in his cross hairs.
“I want the bantamweight title,” he added. “After this I hope they give me the title shot against Haggerty. I want to fight with Haggerty in 2025.”
Ennahachi’s decision win over Superlek in 2021 caused outrage in Thailand, where fans felt the judges got the call wrong.
Yet the 28-year-old is not worried about that as he felt he could have performed even better.
“This fight with Superlek was not my best fight but I won,” Ennahachi said. “I am the only guy who didn’t lose the flyweight title, I gave it back.

“I am too smart for these guys, I am too fast for these guys.”
Despite a lack of action over the past three years, Ennahachi said he has improved as a fighter.
“I’m very excited to be back, I’m happy to fight again in ONE Championship,” Ennahachi said. “If you saw the last fight, you can see I have more power.”
Ennahachi praised former bantamweight kickboxing champion Akimoto, whose background is in karate, ahead of their fight at ONE Friday Fights 81 but still felt he had the edge over his Japanese opponent.
“Akimoto is a very good fighter, he has a Japanese style,” Ennahachi said. “He kicks good but I am undefeated in ONE Championship because my style is very difficult.
Since Ennahachi abdicated his title in 2021, ONE Championship introduced gold-plated belts and, while he is desperate to get his hands on one, his main objective is credit he feels he deserves.
“The gold is nice, the title is nice but I want the respect: from [ONE Championship CEO] Chatri [Sityodtong], from ONE Championship, from the fans,” Ennahachi said. “I want to create a legacy.
“When I finish with fighting I want people to know ‘this guy was crazy, he beat everyone in ONE Championship.’
“I want the title, I want the credit, I want the respect.”


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ONE Championship: Rodtang Jitmuangnon wary of ‘slow’ but durable Jacob Smith in title bout

ONE Championship: Anissa Meksen hopes to cap off career with strawweight kickboxing crown

ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Undefeated Ennahachi, only man to beat Superlek, demands more respect

Ilias Ennahachi is undefeated in ONE Championship and feels he deserves more respect than he has received so far. Photo: ONE Championship

Ilias Ennahachi lands a punch while handing Superlek Kiatmoo9 his only ONE Championship defeat. Photo: ONE Championship

Ilias Ennahachi (left) is fighting at ONE Friday Fights 81 and wants to win a title belt. Photo: ONE Championship

ONE Championship: undefeated Nabati eyes Superlek belt by beating Nong-O in coming fight

Kiamran Nabati has not tasted defeat in his professional career but now wants to become a contender the bantamweight division. Photo: ONE Championship

Kiamran Nabati (left) is hoping a win over Nong-O Gaiyanghadao will make him a title contender. Photo: ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Panpayak eyes Superlek showdown, says ‘only I can stop Muay Thai king’

Panpayak Jitmuangnon has not fought since 2022 but believes he is the only man who can stop Superlek Kiatmoo9. Photo: ONE Championship

Superlek Kiatmoo9 (right) has spoken highly of his Thai rival Panpayak Jitmuangnon. Photo: ONE Championship

Panpayak Jitmuangnon (left) lands a kick during a fight with Savvas Michael. Photo: ONE Championship

ONE Championship: heavyweight bout added to ONE 169 between Marcus Almeida, Amir Aliakbari

Amir Aliakbari (pictured) coulf get a Heavyweight title shot if he beats Marcus Almeida in their showdown at ONE 169. Photo: ONE Championship

ONE Championship, Gladiator star Russell Crowe to collaborate on new film The Beast In Me

Russell Crowe, right, co-wrote and will star in film The Beast In Me, which is made in collaboration with ONE Championship. Photo Getty Images

ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong is expected to appear in sports film The Beast In Me. Photo: ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Chinese fighter Banma Duoji added to Fight Night 25, main event in doubt

Chinese fighter Banma Duoji has been added to the Fight Night 24 card at Lumpinee Stadium on October 3. Photo: ONE Championship

Denize Zamboanga has had to pull out of the Fight Night 25 main event following an injury. Photo: ONE Championship

Sport

Martial Arts

Ennahachi never lost his flyweight title in the ring and was only forced to vacate it because of issues with weight


Ennahachi never lost his flyweight title in the ring and was only forced to vacate it because of issues with weight.
