Thai striking megastar Stamp Fairtex will make her long-awaited return to competition after more than two years when she faces hometown favorite Kana Morimoto in an atomweight kickboxing bout at ONE 173 on 16 November in Japan.
The 27-year-old has been sidelined since September 2023 when she captured the ONE Atomweight MMA World Championship via TKO over Ham Seo Hee. That victory made her ONE Championship’s first three-sport titleholder.
A knee injury forced Stamp to undergo extensive rehabilitation that lasted more than two years, fundamentally changing her daily routine.
"This is my comeback fight after more than two years. The past two years were difficult. It changed my routine from training Muay Thai every day to doing physical therapy every day," Stamp stated.
The Fairtex Training Center representative requested a fight immediately after receiving medical clearance, with the Tokyo date providing perfect timing.
"The moment the doctor said, 'Okay, your body is 100 percent, you can fight,' I requested a fight right away. When the matchup for November 16 in Tokyo came up, I told the gym owner, Mr. Prem [Busarabavonwongs], 'I want to fight!' Because it happens to be my birthday, and I've always dreamed of fighting on my birthday," she explained.
Despite her eagerness to return, Stamp acknowledges uncertainty about her condition after such an extended absence.
"I feel excited, and also nervous. I won't know the full extent of my body's condition and capability until I actually step in to fight," the Thai champion admitted.
Stamp brings 14 promotional victories and a four-fight winning streak into her comeback bout against the 33-year-old Morimoto. The matchup marks a significant test for the returning champion, who has not competed since claiming her third belt.
ALSO READ | Superbon Confident He Can Silence Japanese Crowd In Masaaki Noiri
The November fight will determine whether two years of rehabilitation have prepared Stamp to compete at the elite level that made her one of ONE Championship's most decorated female fighters.
Leave a comment
Please login to leave a comment.