Nico Carrillo finally has a world championship belt around his waist.
The Glasgow native achieved his lifelong dream by defeating Thailand's Shadow Singha Mawynn via unanimous decision to capture the ONE interim featherweight Muay Thai world title in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 40, which aired live on Your Site in the early hours of Saturday morning from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium.
For the 27-year-old 'King of the North', after his painful ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title loss to Nabil Anane in January 2025. This time, fighting at featherweight where his frame and power carry more naturally, Carrillo seized his second opportunity at gold.
But he had to earn it the hard way.
The early rounds belonged to Shadow, a former Rajadamnern Stadium world champion with over 80 career victories. The 26-year-old Bangkok native worked behind a disciplined guard, chipping away at Carrillo with leg kicks, body kicks, and stiff punches that kept the Glasgow fighter at bay.
Shadow truly found his rhythm in the second, as he dodged one of the Scotsman's trademark rights and countered with a stinging left hook that sent him retreating. The Thai poured forward with combinations, forcing the Scotsman to shell up and survive the onslaught.
Carrillo tried to turn the tide in round three, marching forward with his powerful right hand. But just as momentum seemed to shift, Shadow cracked him with another left hook that halted the comeback in its tracks.
Round four proved decisive for the 'King of the North'.
Carrillo finally connected with the right cross that he had been loading the entire fight, sending the Thai crashing to the canvas for the first, and only, knockdown of the battle.
Shadow climbed to his feet to beat the referee's eight-count, but he looked drained. Every time he threw a kick, Carrillo caught it and fired back with heavy punches.
The fifth and final round was all about Glasgow's finest. Carrillo hunted Shadow across the ring with renewed belief, landing clean strikes as the Thai visibly wilted. Both men were battered, bruised, and a bit bloodied up, but only one was dictating the pace.
At the final bell, the judges didn't take long to award the 'King of the North' with the gold he had long been seeking.
The victory elevated his record to 30-4 and vindicated his decision to move up from bantamweight. Having knocked out Thai legend Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and American star Luke Lessei since returning to featherweight, the Glasgow fighter has now claimed the world title that eluded him at the lighter weight.
Carrillo is now positioned for a unification bout with reigning ONE featherweight Muay Thai world champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai once the phenom returns from a leg injury later this year.
