Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga has been forced to temporarily shelve her dream of claiming her first major championship in mixed martial arts.
The Filipina sensation was booked to vie for the ONE Interim Atomweight MMA World Title against Ukraine’s Alyona Rassohyna in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersel II, set to happen at the fabled Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 5.
However, the #2-ranked contender had to withdraw from the bout after sustaining a hamstring injury during training.
“Unfortunately, during one of my sparring sessions, I heard a loud snap, and I knew right away that something was seriously wrong,” Zamboanga recalled.
“It’s heartbreaking because I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for so long.”
Zamboanga’s path to 26 pounds of gold has been fraught with challenges.
She was initially set to battle Stamp Fairtex for the lineal crown at ONE 166: Qatar this past March.
That matchup was rescheduled to ONE 167 in June, only to be derailed again when Stamp suffered a torn meniscus just two weeks before the fight.
Despite these hiccups, “The Menace” persevered and took on Noelle “Lil Monkey” Grandjean, who filled in for the Thai megastar on the card.
In that matchup, Zamboanga dominated Grandjean, keeping her spot at the forefront of the World Title race.
Just when it seemed like her chance to compete for a portion of the divisional throne was finally within reach, this latest injury posed yet another obstacle.
Medical assessments have indicated that Zamboanga will need one to two months of therapy before she can recommence her training routine.
The 27-year-old may be in a tough predicament, but she remains optimistic about her future.
“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 stated.
