‘I Envision Myself With The Belt’ – Janet Todd Aiming For Two-Sport Glory At ONE 159
Janet Todd will join an elite list of superstars who’ve held two World Titles in ONE Championship if she leaves the Singapore Indoor Stadium with a victory on Friday, July 22.
However, the atomweight kickboxing queen is expecting a tough test from Lara Fernandez when they clash for the ONE Interim Atomweight Muay Thai World Title in the co-main event of ONE 159: De Ridder vs. Bigdash.
Todd has only faced world-class opponents since joining the organization, and she predicts that the Spanish debutant will be no different.
The American striker said:
“[Fernandez is] a good technical fighter. She’s fought some top-level competition. She’s, you know, currently a WBC titleholder. And I think the advantage is she has some really good kicks during her exchanges with people. She’s a good forward pressure type of fighter.”
Fernandez certainly has plenty of experience and skills in the striking arts.
The 26-year-old utilizes good movement and is intelligent when picking her shots. That style has played an important role in her meteoric rise as a WBC Muay Thai World Champion and a two-time ISKA Kickboxing World Champion.
But while Todd respects her upcoming opponent, she’s unfazed by the challenge.
Above all, “JT” believes her own ability to adapt and create opportunities will be a decisive factor in this five-round showdown.
The Californian said:
“I think the strength that I have is my movement. To be able to get the angles that I want for my shots, and also the use of my combinations to create openings. It might not be open right at that moment, but then it can lend itself to creating other openings during the fight. So I think I can use those types of advantages in the fight.”
Todd may not have the quickest movement, but she’s relied on her deft footwork to set up highlight-reel knockouts in ONE, including a perfectly timed liver kick against Anne Line Hogstad and a devastating head kick that instantly floored Ekaterina Vandaryeva.
Those finishes have contributed to a dominant six-fight winning streak and a shot at atomweight Muay Thai gold on July 22.
As she prepares for the massive showdown, “JT” is leaving no stone unturned – both physically and mentally – in her quest to become a two-sport ONE World Champion.
The 36-year-old said:
“I envision myself with the belt at the end of the fight. You know, that’s always the mentality that I go in with every fight. I envision, like, at the end of the fight, my hands being raised and feeling that heavy belt strapped over my shoulder.”
Janet Todd Hopes ONE Championship Will Introduce More Americans To Muay Thai
Like most combat sports fans in America, Janet Todd will be watching closely when ONE 161: Moraes vs. Johnson II airs in American primetime on August 26.
The ONE Flyweight World Title rematch between Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes and Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson will headline the show, but the stacked card also features four exciting Muay Thai showdowns.
Some of the sport’s biggest stars will be competing – including Rodtang Jitmuangnon, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, Liam Harrison, and Jonathan Haggerty – and Todd hopes they can steal the hearts of fans watching in the United States.
Then later this year, ONE Championship will begin a multi-year partnership to broadcast live events on Amazon Prime Video Sports, giving fans more chances to connect with the striking arts on a deeper level.
When asked about the partnership, Todd added:
“Yeah, I sure hope [that this will be a good introduction of Muay Thai to American combat sports fans]. I feel like Muay Thai and kickboxing, I think I’m a little biased, but I think it’s so much more exciting. And you know, I hope it gets people interested in the sport, maybe make them want to try it out and, if they end up liking it as much as I do, I hope they take on to that sport.”
