Filipina Muay Thai star Islay Bomogao. Photos courtesy of Bomogao MANILA -- After a decorated amateur Muay Thai career, young Filipina Islay Erika Bomogao is now making the jump to a bigger stage.
The 23-year-old old Bomogao will make her debut on November 8 at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, where she will be up against Fuu in a 100-pound catchweight Muay Thai bout at ONE Friday Fights 86.
Considered as one of the fastest rising combat sports stars in the Philippines, Bomogao has already won a couple of Southeast Asian Games gold medals and was named the top-ranked Muay Thai amateur in the world in the 45-kilogram division.
ONE Championship is a new challenge that she embraces wholeheartedly.
"I really dreamed of this opportunity. It wasn’t too long ago when I was just watching Team Lakay back then, and it’s really one of my dreams," she said. "Being able to achieve this today and be in this position, I’m very fulfilled."
Bomogao will be the first homegrown fighter to compete in ONE Championship's all-striking division -- which for the young fighter is both an honor and a responsibility.
"I feel happy, and of course there’s pressure being the first homegrown fighter to represent the Philippines in Muay Thai for ONE Championship," she acknowledged.
"Making a first impression is very important, especially those who are looking to follow my footsteps into professional Muay Thai," Bomogao added. "There’s pressure because I want to pave the way for all the Muay Thai fighters in the Philippines."
The Filipina joins a loaded fight card that already features two other rising stars in the country in Team Lakay’s Carlos Alvarez and T-Rex MMA’s Fritz Biagtan.
Alvarez takes on Mirza Aliev in a featherweight MMA bout while Biagtan battles Sayedali Asli in a flyweight MMA contest.
READ: Alvarez, Biagtan set for ONE return at Friday Fights 86