ONE Championship Women’s Atomweight ranked #2, Denice Zamboanga, is set to face Noelle Grandjean at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Jo Nattawut II on June 7th at Impact Arena, Bangkok. Originally scheduled to fight current ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Stamp Fairtex as the main event, Zamboanga’s fight was halted because of the 26-year-old’s injury. ONE Championship and CEO Chatri Sityodtong offered Zamboanga another opportunity, though this won’t be a world title fight but a regular Atomweight MMA bout.

Ahead of her much-anticipated bout, in a conversation with EssentiallySports, Zamboanga expressed her desire to explore other fighting styles like boxing and kickboxing.

Denice Zamboanga’s potential switch to kickboxing and boxing

Since her debut in ONE Championship, Denice Zamboanga has dreamt of conquering the MMA world. However, she’s faced setbacks, including the one in her recent fight. Despite feeling discouraged, she’s determined to keep pushing forward in her career. In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, the 27-year-old revealed that, just like Stamp Fairtex, she also aspires to reign supreme in other combat sports.

Three-sports ONE World Champion Stamp Fairtex has been an inspiration for her friends and opponents alike. Denice Zamboanga falls into both categories in this case. Reflecting on the same, Zamboanga claimed, “For me, as an MMA fighter, it’s truly an amazing experience to compete in different combat sports. Right now, MMA remains my focus.” Continuing further, she added, “But I definitely want to challenge myself by trying boxing and kickboxing in the future.” This reflects her dreams of following in Stamp Fairtex’s footsteps and competing in multiple combat sports.

While Stamp Fairtex can be partially an inspiration, her desire to compete in other combat sports likely stems from multiple sources. A significant influence could be her fellow countryman and boxing legend, Manny Pacquiao. The 45-year-old has been a role model for Denice Zamboanga since childhood, and his achievement might have ignited her dream of becoming a multiple-sports athlete.

Zamboanga highlights Manny Pacquiao’s influence

Every young fighter always looks up to a renowned senior fighter. This trend has been prevalent across the sports industry for many decades. For example, famous boxer Tyson Fury‘s name was inspired by Mike Tyson, who reigned as the undisputed heavyweight champion. Similarly, in the interview with EssentiallySports, Denice Zamboanga remembered her childhood days and recalled the great influence that shaped her into the MMA star is she today.

“You know, it’s really Manny Pacquiao, really inspiring. Not only for me but most of the athletes in the Philippines because of the way he trains, the hard work he puts in training, and the fighting spirit he has in the ring,” the fighter added. With her fight against Noelle Grandjean just three days away, Zamboanga has risen steadily towards her goal of becoming a ONE Championship MMA World Champion. However, only the future will tell if she can match the achievement of her inspiration and idol, Manny Pacquiao, in the near future.

Do you think the 27-year-old will emerge victorious at ONE 167? Drop your predictions in the comments below.