ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga has heard all the whispers and murmurs and she wants nothing more than to put an end to them.
The Filipina believes some people aren’t yet convinced that she’s the undisputed ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion following the lingering injury of erstwhile divisional ruler Stamp Fairtex.
If fans aren’t impressed with her dismantling of Alyona Rassohyna, then she wants nothing more than to put an end to those talks with another impressive victory against any deserving opponent, regardless if it’s the red-hot Ayaka Miura, or an old ghost in Zamboaga’s past, Ham Seo Hee.
“There might be people who think I only became champion because Stamp was stripped of the belt, but I’m determined to prove that I truly deserve this,” she said.
“I’ve given everything to this sport, and now that I hold the title, I’m ready to defend it against anyone.”
Zamboanga wants in at ONE 173
The Filipina World Champion already knows when she wants to mark her return.
Zamboanga has heard all about ONE’s next major show in ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on November 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, and she hopes to make her first World Title defense on that same card.
“I hope, by God’s will, I’ll get the chance to compete at ONE 173 in Japan, a beautiful country that loves martial arts and reflects the values we stand for at ONE,” she said.
The show will feature the long-awaited unification of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title when current divisional king Superbon takes on interim champ Masaaki Noiri in the main event.
Also announced for the show is the rematch between ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane and two-division king Anatoly Malykhin.
Looking at ONE’s previous tentpole shows in the past, it’s fair to expect more World Title bouts on the show, and Zamboanga is volunteering to put her belt on the line in a country as historic for the sport as Japan.
“It’s the birthplace of MMA, and it’s also one of my favorite places in the world. I’ll make sure I’m ready to face the top contenders of this division and defend the belt,” she said.
“We will make sure to bring home the win to my dear country, the Philippines.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
