Filipino mixed martial artist Denice Zamboanga's bid for the ONE Championship Interim Atomweight title will be postponed due to a hamstring injury.
Zamboanga, initially scheduled to fight Ukraine’s Alyona Rassohyna at ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersell II in October, will miss the match because of the injury sustained during training.
"Unfortunately, during one of my sparring sessions, I heard a loud snap, and I knew right away that something was seriously wrong. It’s heartbreaking because I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for so long,” Zamboanga said.
The 27-year-old fighter was previously slated to compete for the atomweight title against Stamp Fairtex in March, but the bout was moved to June.
When Stamp suffered a torn meniscus two weeks before the fight, Zamboanga faced Noelle Grandjean instead, winning by unanimous decision and positioning herself as a top contender for the title.
Zamboanga will require one to two months of therapy before she can resume training.
"I've faced challenges before, and I'll face them again. My dream of becoming a World Champion is still alive, and I won't stop until I achieve it," she vowed.
Stamp Fairtex expressed her support for Zamboanga, saying, “I'm sorry to hear about Denice's injury. I was really excited about her fight with Alyona. It was a highly anticipated match. I hope she recovers quickly and can get back to training soon. Wishing you a speedy recovery, my friend!”
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