WBC Muaythai European champion, Nico Carrillo, has been on an unstoppable run of form in recent years. Not only that, but the Scotsman has skyrocketed in popularity amongst the Muay Thai community. Knockout victories over Mo Abdurahman and then Jack Kennedy in 2021 solidified his spot as one of the most prolific strikers in the world.
He later went on to claim the WBC Muaythai European title with a stoppage win over Spain’s Dani Molero in December 2021. Since then, he has claimed the ISKA Muaythai World title and earned a monumental victory over Thai legend, Saeksan Or.Kwanmuang (เสกสรร อ.ขวัญเมือง) in Ireland.
Back in June 2022, Nico Carrillo was scheduled to face Nathan Bendon for the WBC Muaythai Super-Lightweight World title. Bendon had defeated Adam Noi to capture the belt in February and was set to defend against Carrillo at SuperShowDown in June. Injury, however, meant Bendon was forced to withdraw from the bout six weeks away from the scheduled date. The news triggered a back and forth between the pair on social media.
During Nico Carrillo’s frustrated rant, he admitted that this would’ve been the last time he would compete at 63.5kg. Though it has become difficult for Carrillo to make the 63.5kg limit, he stated he would’ve still made the weight one more time for the sake of the title fight against Nathan Bendon. Now though, him and his team have decided a move up to Welterweight (66.678kg / 147lbs) is the best thing to do right now.
With that in mind, it opens up an array of questions about who Nico Carrillo could possibly fight next. In this article, we list five Muay Thai fighters we think Nico Carrillo could or should face next.
Julio Lobo
Julio Lobo is a Brazilian Muay Thai fighter training out of the popular Phuket Fight Club. He is one of the most accomplished foreign Muay Thai fighters in Thailand. Having moved to Thailand in 2016, he has fought many of the best in his weight division, including Shadow Tor.Thepsutin, Tapaokaew Singmawynn and Rittewada Sitthikul.
In 2020, Julio (known as Lobo PhuketFightClub in Thailand) was one of the most active fighters in Thailand during the heights of the COVID pandemic. Later in 2021, he defeated Rambo Petch-Por.Tor.Or to win the Siam Omnoi Stadium 147lbs title, becoming only the third ever foreign fighter to do so.
Alessandro Sara
Known as the “Italian Ferrari”, Alessandro Sara has long been one of the top foreign Muay Thai fighters on the elite Muay Thai scene in Thailand. He too has recently moved up in weight and regularly competes around the 147lbs limit now.
Formerly of Petchrungruang Gym in Pattaya, he recently made the move to Jitmuangnon Gym in Bangkok, where he trains along side the elite stars such as Rodtang (รถถัง จิตรเมืองนนท์), Nuenglanlek (หนึ่งล้านเล็ก) and more.
Pasquale G. Amoroso
One of the lesser-known fighters on our list, Pasquale G. Amoroso has been paving his own path to the top. Relatively unknown to UK Muay Thai fans, the Italian defeated Liam McGrandles to win the WMO International title in October 2021. He later went on to successfully defend the title in South Africa in May 2022.
Recently, he has been training out of Magma Muay Thai gym in ChonBuri, Thailand and earned a big first round knockout win at Rajadamnern Stadium.
He is currently ranked #8 in the WMO Muaythai Welterweight rankings. Only the second foreign Muay Thai fighter on the list, behind the UK’s Liam Harrison.
Rafi Bohic
Rafi Bohic is one on this list that will need little introduction. The Frenchman is a 2017 Lumpinee Stadium and 2016 WBC Muaythai World champion. With well over 100 fights in his career, he is one of the most accomplished foreign Muay Thai fighters of all time.
Bohic defeated the aforementioned Pasquale G. Amoroso on his home event in Dardilly, France, back in July 2021. Before that though, Bohic had spent many years completing against the very best on the elite Muay Thai scene in Thailand. He has shared the ring with the likes of Yodlekphet (ยอดเหล็กเพชร), Chujaroen (ชูเจริญ ดาบรันสารคาม), Sangmanee (แสงมณี ส.เทียนโพธิ์) and many more.
Sajad Sattari
Sajad Sattari is the current WBC Muaythai Welterweight World champion. Given his status, this assumingly seems the most likely fight Nico Carrillo would want. The Iranian Muay Thai fighter currently trains with ONE Championship stars Mehdi Zatout, Sinsamut Klinmee and more at Venum Muay Thai Camp in Pattaya, Thailand.
After moving to Thailand in 2019, Sajad Sattari has competed on Muay Thai Super Champ and Muay Hardcore. In April 2021, he had the honour of sharing the ring with Kongklai AnnyMuayThai (ก้องไกล เอ็นนี่มวยไทย). In late 2021 and early 2022, he went on an unbeaten run of six fights, which culminated in the WBC World title victory over Julio Lobo.
He is now competing in the Rajadamnern World Series tournament. In his second bout, he earned a first round knockout victory over the UK’s Jonny Betts.
Note: The above listed fighters are purely opinion based and for discussion only. They should not be taken as factual agreements between either fighters or camps.