ONE Championship giant Nabil Anane sets sights on 2028 LA Olympics boxing

Nabil Anane (22, Thailand/Algeria), a towering presence in global mixed martial arts promotion ONE Championship, is entering the Thai national trials with his sights set on representing the country in boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

While it is not uncommon for professional combat sports champions to also compete in professional boxing, it is rare for one to pursue Olympic boxing — the pinnacle of the amateur game. The prospect has drawn wide attention, with observers noting that Anane is a genuine medal contender.

At a press conference held Friday at Evolve MMA in Bangkok, he officially announced his entry into the Thai national boxing trials. The former ONE Championship muay thai bantamweight (65.8 kg) champion said he is preparing to compete in either the 65 kg or 70 kg division at the Olympics.

That does not mean he is going all-in on boxing. For now, he will continue fulfilling his ONE Championship schedule. Having fought twice this year, he is on track to compete again in late 2026 or early 2027 if his schedule proceeds normally.

The overlapping commitments were made possible through advance coordination among ONE Championship, Thai boxing authorities and the Olympic committee. ONE Championship described the press conference as an occasion to formally announce the cooperative relationship among the three organizations.

Anane's greatest weapon is his 195-centimeter frame — a height so imposing within his weight class that opponents have little answer for him at long range. In close quarters, he neutralizes rivals with his signature knee strikes to the face and body, leaving almost no opening even in infighting.

That stature is expected to serve him just as well on the Olympic stage. He is also reported to have trained extensively in boxing before dedicating himself to muay thai as a teenager, giving him a solid foundation in the sport. Though Olympic boxing restricts fighters to punches only — unlike kickboxing or muay thai — it is far from unfamiliar territory for him.

His professional record has hit a rough patch, however. In March, he lost his title in a stunning upset, going down from a surprise attack by Ramboulek Cho Atalaboon and dropping a decision. His comeback bout this month ended in another setback, as he was knocked down by Suakim Pungsuphan and lost by split decision. True to a campaign pledge he had made, he shaved his head after the defeat.

Even amid the losing streak, Anane has kept his composure. He views the setbacks as the kind of mistakes a 22-year-old can learn from, and has channeled the pain of back-to-back losses into the drive to pursue a new goal on the Olympic stage — a notably forward-looking attitude.

Should Anane earn a spot on the Thai team and compete at the LA Olympics, he is expected to be one of the most closely watched athletes in the boxing competition.