Stamp Fairtex can compete in three different sports, so there will be no shortage of potential opponents. The Thai currently holds the atomweight MMA belt and previously held the kickboxing and Muay Thai titles in the same weight class.
He will defend his MMA belt against Dennis Zamboanga on June 8th at ONE 167 in Bangkok. The two were former training partners and had been based at Fairtex Gym in Pattaya for several years.
Zamboanga left Fairtex when it looked like a fight with Stamps was going to be avoided. Last weekend, the Thai national was in Bangkok to take part in ONE Fight Night 20, and she spent some time talking with the Thais. post.
Stamp said she is looking forward to making her first defense of the title she won last year by defeating Ham So-hee, but acknowledges Zamboanga is a dangerous opponent.
“I'm excited because it's my first time defending the belt. I think the way she puts me down and puts pressure on me makes her dangerous.”
Stamp and Zamboanga trained together in Pattaya when both were rising stars in the atomweight division. It became increasingly clear that they would eventually fight, but Stamp claims they never discussed it.
“I haven't talked to her about it, but it's been in the back of my mind,” the 26-year-old said.
Stamp was ringside at Lumphini Stadium to watch Pejija Rukjaoporontom defeat Janet Todd to unify the kickboxing atomweight titles.
Stamp held this belt from 2018 to 2020 and would like to get it back.
“I'm interested in both belts that were once mine. I feel that Pezilla is a rising star. She has the strength and speed and I think she can beat most opponents. I hope we can fight.”
In addition to holding the atomweight title, Stamp is also interested in becoming the first fighter in history to hold MMA titles in two weight classes.
The match against Zamboanga was originally scheduled for ONE 166 in Qatar, but was postponed several months and will now take place at the 11,000-capacity Impact Arena in Bangkok.
The date has been confirmed, and Stamp hopes to be given the opportunity to challenge current strawweight champion Xiong Jingnan then.
“After defending the belt, I would like to move up to strawweight and face Xiong Jingnan. I have always thought that since I got the belt. We are both strikers, so I would like to move up to strawweight and face Xiong Jingnan. I don't think anyone would aim for that.”
The Stamp is 3 inches (7.6 cm) shorter than the Xiong, and while the difference is significant, it's not insurmountable. Having won three different titles in the atomweight division, she is looking to test her skills in a higher weight class, and there will likely be a number of fights for the Thai fighter in 2024.
If Stamp is able to defend his atomweight title for the first time by defeating Zamboanga in June, it looks like other belts will be on the table for Fairtex.
