“Those small things shape you” – Regian Eersel channels the weight of subtle discrimination into an unbreakable fighting spirit
Reigning ONE lightweight Muay Thai world champion Regian Eersel of Suriname has experienced a rough upbringing growing up in the Netherlands.
‘The Immortal’ channels that adversity each time he steps onto the global stage, making him one of the most mentally strong warriors in modern striking.
The 33-year-old has opened up about feeling scorned as an immigrant and admitted that the feeling of belonging was never guaranteed.
Despite living in the country for years, Eersel admits he still gets those judging looks even to this day.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
For Eersel, those unideal circumstances have forged his spirit and influenced the way he carries himself with confidence.
The Sityodtong Amsterdam affiliate told ONE Championship in an exclusive interview:
“You notice things, the way people look at you, small behaviors. They don’t always say it directly, but you feel it. You have a brown skin color, and people treat you differently in small ways. People would judge you immediately. They assume things about you without knowing you. Those small things shape you.”
Instead of being discouraged, Regian Eersel has chosen to use that pain to create something positive. The 170-pound Muay Thai king will seek to reclaim his two-sport status this coming Friday in the main event of The Inner Circle.
He’ll face Rungrawee ‘Legatron’ Sitsongpeenong for the vacant ONE lightweight kickboxing world title on April 10, live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.
Regian Eersel says listening to Tupac and DMX got him through hard times
One of the ways that Regian Eersel overcame his tough childhood is through listening to hip-hop icons.
Tupac and DMX were his go-to artists, since he related to the lyrics that talked about real life in the streets.
The lightweight Muay Thai world champion told ONE Championship:
“They rap about how life is unfair as a black person in America. But on the other side, they also push you to do good and chase your dreams in other songs. They tell you everything is going to be alright. And in other songs, not always, because life is hard.”
Edited by Saiyed Adeem Karim