Denice Zamboanga Outlines Tentative Timeline for Stamp Fairtex Fight After Missing Title Oppurtunity at ONE 167

Three-sports ONE World Champion Stamp Fairtex was initially scheduled to defend her title against the current #2 ranked ONE Championship Women’s Atomweight, Denice Zamboanga, in the main event of ONE 167 at the Impact Arena, Bangkok, on June 7th. However, due to a knee injury sustained during training, the bout was postponed. This unexpected turn of events led to a change in the main event, with Tawanchai PK Saenchei vs. Jo Nattawut taking its place.

Consequently, the news of Stamp’s injury and surgery undoubtedly dampened the hype surrounding the originally planned fight. While there’s no official confirmation yet on the new date for Stamp vs. Zamboanga, Denice Zamboanga offered a glimmer of hope to fans in a recent interview with a renowned sports website, hinting at a potential date for the fight.

Denice Zamboanga’s proposed timeline for Stamp Fairtex fight

Since her debut in ONE Championship, becoming the number one contender has been Denice Zamboanga’s ultimate dream. However, unforeseen circumstances, like this recent injury to Stamp Fairtex, have repeatedly delayed her shot at the title. Despite this setback, Zamboanga’s spirit remains unbroken. Thanks to ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong, he has another opponent for ONE 167. However, her desire to face Stamp Fairtex remains alive, as she revealed in a recent exclusive interview with EssentiallySports hosted by Raj Sarkar.

The host pressed Denice Zamboanga about any potential dates for their fight with Stamp Fairtex. Zamboanga responded, “Just for the fans, I think a year or so. It’s really up to her [Stamp]. I want her 100% when we fight. I don’t want to pressure her to compete before she’s fully recovered.” As we know, Stamp just had surgery a week ago, which obviously presents a challenge for a near-future fight. For now, Denice Zamboanga will have to wait a little longer for her next title shot.

Furthermore, this isn’t the only event affected by Stamp Fairtex’s injury. Another major event seems halted by the absence of Stamp-her scheduled champion vs. champion bout against Xiong Jing Nan at ONE Championship 168: Denver in the United States on September 6, 2024. In a recent interview, former ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion, Smila Sundell, expressed her desire to fight against Xiong if Stamp hasn’t recovered from her injury by then.

Smila Sundell aims to step into Stamp’s spot at ONE 168: Denver

Stamp Fairtex’s caliber shouldn’t be questioned based on one missed championship. When she withdrew from a fight previously,  many fighters saw an opportunity to take her place. The same happened with ONE 167. Nelolle Grandjean stepped in when Stamp pulled out. Similarly, Sundel wants to fill the spot if Stamp Fiartex remains sidelined until September. In her recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA on their YouTube channel, Sundell expressed her desire to fight against Xiong Jing Nan.

In the interview, when the host himself revealed that he saw Smilla Sundell as a replacement for Stamp Fairtex, Sundell readily confirmed her desire. She said she would love to do it. The host then reckoned that Smilla Sundell had nothing to lose against Xiong Jing Nan. In reply, Smila Sundell said, “I Don’t think she has anything to lose either,” while continuing, “She’s not training Muay Thai at the moment, so it would be fair in a way, but not really fair because I’m going into a whole new sport.” Being a Muay Thai Specialist, it would be difficult for Sundell to transition into MMA.

However, this aim of Sundell can only be successfully fulfilled if Stamp’s recovery is right on track. According to a few reports, she can return to Muay Thai and MMA practice after a month. ultimately, the decision lies with ONE Championship and its CEO Chatri Sityodtong. They can either wait for stamp Fairtex’s recovery or choose another opponent like they chose Neolle Grandjean for ONE 167. Who do you want to see as Stamp Fairtex’s replacement? Comment your thoughts below.