Algeria’s rising star Nabil Anane handed toughest ONE Championship test to date

Algeria’s Nabil Anane will look to continue his hot streak as he returns to the ONE Championship ring in less than two weeks. Hot off his stunning second-round knockout of Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai in their bantamweight Muay Thai clash at ONE Friday Fights 69 on July 5, he has now been handed his toughest test to date. At ONE Fight Night 24, the 20-year-old will face Brazil’s Felipe Lobo, a man who has taken on some of the very best ONE Championship has to offer. His last outing was a defeat to the current bantamweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing champion Jonathan Heggerty, while his only other loss in ONE came against long-time former Muay Thai champion Nong-O Hama. Add to this wins against Saemapetch Fairtex and Rodlek PK Saenchai and it is clear to see why the Demolition Man is one of the most respected bantamweight strikers. As with many of his fights, the six-foot-three Anane, the youngest ever WBC Muay Thai champion, will enjoy a considerable height advantage over Lobo – seven inches to be precise and while the youngster has been adept at using his range, it was his ability in the clinch and at short range that impressed against Kulabdam. With only an organisational debut defeat to Superlek blotting his ONE record, a win at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in the early hours of August 3 will surely put Anane (36-5) on the brink of fighting for gold. ONE Fight Night 24 takes place at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday August 3 at 4am Gulf Standard Time. Fight fans in the MENA region can watch the action live on BeIN Sports and through watch.onefc.com