Teenage muay Thai prodigy Nabil Anane is taking on a huge challenge in his promotional bow in ONE Championship, but he’s ready to take on the world.

The 19-year-old faces ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 in a muay Thai battle at ONE Friday Fights 22 on Friday, June 23, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, and he has had to prepare for more than just his intimidating foe.

As per ONE rules, Anane will be fighting in four-ounce gloves when he meets Superlek – a drastic change from other competitive muay Thai formats.

Far from being daunted by this prospect, however, the Thai-Algerian star welcomes the new challenge, and he points out to his previous experience in the Myanmar boxing style of lethwei, where no gloves are worn, to highlight his comfort level.

“I fought in lethwei before, one time with no gloves, only hand wraps. All I can remember is that it hurt,” Anane recalled.

“But I had that range. This was my big advantage. With small gloves, you don’t really need power. You just need speed and right timing, and your opponent is going to sleep.”

Standing at a 6-foot-2 – a staggering height for a flyweight – Anane repeatedly upstaged far more physically mature competition on the famous Bangkok muay Thai circuit, where he amassed an impressive 33-4-1 record.

The Team Mehdi Zatout representative sees his debut against Superlek as the perfect opportunity to launch his career in ONE, and he’s aiming to leave Lumpinee with a bit of extra cash in his pocket.

“This is going to be a big fight, maybe ‘Fight of the Night.’ I just want to prove myself and show the whole world who I am as a fighter. If the opportunity presents itself, for sure, I will go for the bonus,” he said.

“I think after this fight, I will grow in this sport very fast, and my name will be more popular. It’s also just the beginning because I’m just 19 years old. I have a lot more to prove, and I am nowhere near the end. I have a lot more I want to do.”