Heavy is the head that wears the crown, yet ONE Lightweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion Regian “The Immortal” Eersel carries two, and he has earned every right to enjoy the view.
For now, he is soaking in the spoils of victory. Still, with two belts to protect, his next battle is never far away.
That gives him a vested interest when Rukiya “Demolition Man” Anpo and Bogdan Shumarov clash in a high-stakes lightweight kickboxing showdown at ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17, live from Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
Japanese fans can catch the action live on U-NEXT, while international audiences can stream the blockbuster spectacle on live.onefc.com.
Earlier this month at The Inner Circle 33, Eersel survived a first-round knockdown in his rematch with George “G-Unit” Jarvis. He rallied for a fourth-round stoppage, retaining his Muay Thai crown and claiming a record 12th World Title victory.
All signs now point to his kickboxing crown being next on the line. One of those potential challengers has already come close to the champion. Shumarov owns a 19-3 professional record, and all three of his wins inside the world’s largest martial arts organization have ended in stoppages.
That destructive run earned the Bulgarian a date with “The Immortal,” but the injury bug struck before it could materialize.
Eersel told onefc.com:
“[Shumarov] was supposed to fight me. I even signed the contract with his name on it. But then he got injured.”
Still, that door could soon reopen. Eersel had already broken down Shumarov’s game ahead of their cancelled pairing, and what he found was a technical and intriguing potential foe.
On the surface, the SB Gym product built his reputation on heavy hooks and overhands. However, it was another side of his arsenal that caught the champ-champ’s eye.
The Amsterdam resident said:
“Bogdan, he’s very stretchable with his legs, and he can throw a high kick from a close distance, spinning back kicks, axe kicks.”
On the other side of the lens stands Anpo. Before arriving in ONE, the Himeji native reigned as K-1 Super Lightweight Champion, winning over fans with a dynamic, crowd-pleasing style.
Now, the home favorite moves up a weight class after dropping a unanimous decision to Marat Grigorian in his promotional debut at ONE 173 last November.
Naturally, Eersel will be paying close attention to how the Japanese star handles the bigger division.
The 33-year-old said:
“I didn’t study him so well, to tell you honestly. But what I saw, I didn’t see any danger yet. He had some Japanese kicks, and his boxing is good, but I didn’t see any danger yet.”
Eersel Is Intrigued By A Fresh Challenge
Regian Eersel has never been one to pick his opponents. He will face anyone, anytime, and he enjoys watching contenders scratch and claw their way up to earn a shot at martial arts glory.
While he would share the ring with either Rukiya Anpo or Bogdan Shumarov, he concedes that one outcome would suit him a little better.
From North America to Asia, Eersel has built a globe-trotting career that spans continents. Yet for all those miles, one martial arts hotbed remains missing from his resume.
“The Immortal” said:
“I slightly hope Anpo’s gonna win so I can finally fight in Japan. But we will see. We will see.
“I’ve never been to Japan, so it sounds pretty cool to me to fight over there.”
Regardless of who gets the nod, the undisputed king is excited by the prospect of a new challenger. For a man who has won multiple rematches on the global stage, a capable new adversary provides the ultimate motivation.
As the opening bell approaches for this pivotal kickboxing clash, the Surinamese-Dutch superstar waits on his throne. He wishes the pair the best, but he has also issued an ominous message.
Eersel said:
“To both boys – I got my eyes on you.”
