Jonathan Haggerty injured, Hiromi Wajima steps in to face Nabil Anane in kickboxing fight at ONE 173

ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion Nabil Anane will have a new challenge awaiting him at ONE 173 inside the Ariake Arena on Sunday, November 16.

The 21-year-old Thai-Algerian slugger was initially scheduled to cross paths against ONE bantamweight kickboxing world champion Jonathan Haggerty on the star-studded card, but the Englishman was forced out of action after suffering a serious shoulder tear during his fight camp in Koh Samui, Thailand.

As a result, Anane will trade leather with ONE Championship newcomer, former three-time K-1 champion 'The Purple Comet' Hiromi Wajima, in a featherweight kickboxing joust.

This marks the Team Mehdi Zatout athlete's second kickboxing contest following his debut in the discipline against former flyweight kickboxing king Ilias Ennahachi at ONE Friday Fights 126 in September.

Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more

Nabil Anane fought tooth and nail alongside the Dutch-Moroccan warrior in Bangkok, Thailand, but an accidental kick to the groin from the former resulted in the bout being declared a no contest.

He returns to action fired up to right his mistakes and secure his maiden kickboxing triumph on the global stage of ONE.

Thus far, the young gun has accumulated seven promotional wins against the likes of 'The Kicking Machine' Superlek Kiatmoo9, Nico Carrillo, Soe Lin Oo, and 'Elbow Zombie' Muangthai PK Saenchai.

While Anane will be thrilled to continue impressing the masses at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri, he'll have no room for error against a striker of Wajima's caliber inside the Ariake Arena on November 16.

Hiromi Wajima won't be an easy test for Nabil Anane

Looking to halt Nabil Anane's near-flawless tenure in ONE is Japanese newcomer Hiromi Wajima.

The 30-year-old Osaka native is out to announce his arrival in the world's largest martial arts organization in style, and he certainly has all the needed tools to make life difficult for the six-foot-four fighter.

He possesses a variety of weapons that can sting the lanky Anane inside the pocket, and his speed and footwork on the outside will be crucial to allow him to pick his battles on the outside.

'The Purple Comet' has only suffered three losses from his last 16 fights, and fight fans can expect another striking clinic from the Gesshinkai Team Samurai athlete when he opens his account on the global stage of ONE at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri.

Tickets for the blockbuster spectacle are available here. Fight fans visit watch.onefc.com for how-to-watch details.

Follow One Championship News, Schedule & Results at Sportskeeda.

Edited by Saiyed Adeem Karim