"He's a golden boy, isn't he?" - Nico Carrillo wants Muay Thai title fight with Tawanchai, not open to kickboxing

Nico Carrillo has his eyes on ONE Championship gold, and he knows exactly which version of the fight he wants.

The fourth-ranked contender returns to action against Luke Lessei at ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok, Thailand. Their featherweight Muay Thai battle takes place live in U.S. primetime on Friday, Nov. 7.

In a candid discussion with the South China Morning Post (SCMP) ahead of fight night, the 27-year-old Glaswegian was asked about a potential future clash with reigning ONE featherweight Muay Thai world champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai, and 'King of the North' made his position absolutely clear.

"Obviously, let's focus on Luke Lessei, but I think with Tawanchai, he's a golden boy, isn't he? So, I doubt if he wants to fight kickboxing," Nico Carrillo said.

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For the Scotsman, whose ONE Championship wins have come inside the distance with devastating knockout power, a Muay Thai title shot represents the ultimate goal rather than pursuing kickboxing glory.

Watch his full interview with SCMP below:

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Nico Carrillo must handle Luke Lessei first before dreaming of world title glory

While Nico Carrillo has his sights set on Tawanchai, he must first navigate a tricky and dangerous test in Luke Lessei at ONE Fight Night 37.

Lessei, nicknamed 'The Chef', rides momentum from his first-round TKO of Canadian slugger Cody Jerome at ONE Fight Night 27 this past January and represents exactly the type of challenge that could derail Carrillo's world championship aspirations.

The Scottish striker has been nothing short of spectacular since joining ONE Championship, showcasing the devastating finishing ability that has made him one of the most feared competitors in the featherweight Muay Thai division.

As such, a dominant performance against Lessei would further strengthen his case for a ticket at Tawanchai's 26 pounds of gold.

Will he continue his climb by adding another massive win inside the Mecca of Muay Thai next month?

Active Amazon Prime Video subscribers in North America can catch all the action from ONE Fight Night 37: Kryklia vs. Agdeve live and for free in U.S. primetime on Friday, Nov. 7.

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Edited by Aziel Karthak