Handout photo
MANILA -- Back in 2020, Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga was on her way to a shot at the ONE Atomweight MMA world title.
Then unbeaten and coming off quality wins over divisional mainstays in Jihin Radzuan and Mei Yamaguchi, the Filipina was primed to challenge longtime atomweight queen Angela Lee for the biggest prize of the sport.
Things sort of spiraled down for Zamboanga’s world title aspirations at that time.
The pandemic pushed back plans for that eventual match-up, before Lee got pregnant with her first child forcing ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong to put together a ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix tournament to keep the division moving.
In the tournament, Zamboanga absorbed the first loss of her career – albeit in controversial fashion when she dropped a split-decision loss to Ham Seo Hee, thus dropping her out of the tournament and pushing her back down the list of atomweight contenders.
READ: Team Lakay coach offers advice to Denice Zamboanga ahead of title bout
Three years after the controversial loss, “The Menace” finally gets her chance when she challenges Stamp Fairtex for the ONE Atomweight MMA World Championship at ONE 167 inside Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand this 6 June.
READ: Denice Zamboanga leans on familiar faces in training vs. Stamp Fairtex
“I think before, I was really disappointed when I didn’t get my shot against Angela, but looking at it now with hindsight, I think it was God’s will that it got delayed,” Zamboanga said.
“Now, I believe it’s my time. This is my time to shine, this is my time to get that belt. I feel like that delay got me more prepared for a World Title shot and I can truly say I’m prepared now to take my shine.”
With wins over Lin Heqin and Julie Mezabarba, Zamboanga has once again positioned herself as the division’s top contender and she promises to make the most out of it.
She knows that she’s not only doing this for herself, but she’s fighting for representation in the ecosystem of Philippine MMA – a sport that has been dominated by male fighters in the country.
Bringing home a world title to the Philippines as the first Filipina to ever do it will only further motivate the younger generation of girls to pursue the sport, given Zamboanga’s exploits.
“Becoming the first Filipina World Champion goes beyond me. I want to win this belt because I want to inspire the kids, especially the young ladies who want to pursue MMA,” she said.
“I want to show them that while boys have dominated the headlines, women can also shine and dominate this sport.”