Stamp Fairtex Will Rely On "Thai Power" To Claim The World Title
Stamp Fairtex (60-15-5) wants to make a statement in her promotional debut on Saturday, 6 October.
The Thai is scheduled to challenge ONE Kickboxing Atomweight World Champion “Killer Bee” Kai Ting Chuang (17-5) for the belt in the co-main event of ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES, which is set for the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
By capturing the gold in her first appearance, the 20-year-old will accomplish a couple of personal goals that are close to her heart.
“I want to show the Thai people that I can do it, and I want to become champion so I can make my parents proud,” she says.
“I also want the world to see that Thai female athletes are good too, not only beautiful.”
Stamp Fairtex had her first match when she was 5 years old! 😱
Stamp Fairtex had her first match when she was 5 years old! 😱Bangkok | 6 October | LIVE and FREE on the ONE Super App: http://bit.ly/ONESuperApp | TV: Check local listings for global broadcast | Tickets: http://bit.ly/oneheroes18
Posted by ONE Championship on Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Stamp, a two-division Northeastern Thailand Champion, jumped at the opportunity to challenge for the ONE Kickboxing Atomweight World Title. She opted to return to her striking roots after her brief foray into mixed martial arts.
Coincidentally, it was her move into this new sports arena that helped bring about her chance to compete for ONE gold, as she was recently featured on Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series.
A fantastic 19-second head-kick KO at the ONE Warrior Series Mid-Season 2 Finale revealed her Muay Thai excellence, and with “Killer Bee” needing a fresh challenger, Stamp’s return to stand-up competition seemed like an obvious choice.
“My boss, Prem (Busarakamwongs), thought I could compete in kickboxing like Yodcherry (Sityodtong),” she explains. “He thinks I can win if I prepare myself well.”
Stamp and her team at Fairtex Training Center in Pattaya, Thailand immediately started researching “Killer Bee” to maximize her chances of success in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
In July, Chuang utilized her elite-level kickboxing skills to defeat Yodcherry via unanimous decision and capture the inaugural World Championship at ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS in Guangzhou, China.
The Thai watched all five rounds of the back-and-forth affair, in addition to studying the titleholder’s skills extensively, and has formulated a plan.
“She has a boxing style, and that is her strength,” Stamp explains. “She strikes mostly with punches and has speed. I must focus on kicking instead.”
Also, having competed in ‘the art of eight limbs’ since the age of 5, Stamp believes in the strength of Muay Thai and its versatility.
“I won’t be allowed to use the elbows,” she acknowledges. “But I can use my knees and my fists, and I can still move around to defend myself.”
Stylistically, this bout has all the makings of a classic encounter.
Two world-class martial artists will go head-to-head, and the technical ability of both champion and challenger offers many possibilities.
Stamp believes the match may come down to their determination and will to win, which she says she has, plus some extra encouragement from her compatriots.
“Am I better than her?” she asks. “Maybe I’m not better than her, but I am a hard-working person. I will do my best in this fight, and I will do whatever I can to win the championship.
“Fighting in Thailand, of course, I will hear a lot of cheering. I am Thai, they are Thai. It’s Thai power. With this support, I am already halfway to the win.”
Stamp is riding a wave of confidence right now.
The Thai feels ready to face the biggest challenge of her career, and accomplish all of her goals by dethroning the champion at ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES.
