Jonathan Haggerty has insisted Nico Carrillo is next in line should he retain the ONE Championship bantamweight Muay Thai title against Superlek Kiatmookao in Denver.
But "The General" may have other fish to fry first – namely, defending his kickboxing belt, and taking a stab at becoming a three-sport champion in ONE with a tilt at his weight class's MMA title.
Scotland's "King of the North" Carrillo has repeatedly called for a shot at 27-year-old Haggerty's Muay Thai belt.
But despite bulldozing his way to the top of the rankings with statement wins over former champion Nong-O Hama, and former title challenger Saemapetch Fairtex, his demands have so far fallen on deaf ears.
"I feel like Nico Carrillo is well deserving of a fight for sure, so he's No 1," Haggerty told the Bangkok Post after an intense training session in downtown Denver, where he has based himself for the last month to adjust to the altitude in the "Mile High City".
The 27-year-old Briton faces possibly the toughest test of his career when he takes on Thailand's pound-for-pound great Superlek in the main event of Friday's ONE 168 card at Ball Arena.
If that significant hurdle is successfully cleared, there are multiple options on the table – and Carrillo may have to wait.
"I don't want to keep the kickboxing division on hold," Haggerty added. "I've got both belts. So Nico, the No 1 in kickboxing, or even MMA, who knows? Let's go."
Haggerty is confident of claiming a third strap, having easily dispatched ONE's bantamweight MMA champion, Fabricio Andrade, by second-round knockout to win the then-vacant kickboxing title last November.
A former flyweight Muay Thai champion in ONE, Haggerty even has his eyes on a move up to a third weight class at 155lbs, which presents even more title opportunities – including a mouthwatering clash with Thailand's Tawanchai PK Saenchai.
"I'm always up for a challenge. I thrive on challenges," Haggerty said, of a potential future featherweight fight.
"I always feel better when it's a bigger challenge, so never say never."
