The Inner Circle 28 Title Bout Cancelled As Phetjeeja's Injury Forces Withdrawal

ONE Women's Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom has been forced to withdraw from her high-profile scheduled title defense at The Inner Circle 28 on Friday, August 28, due to a hand injury sustained in training.

The bout against Greek challenger Antonia Prifti has been removed from the card, with ONE Championship yet to confirm any rescheduling or alternative plans for Prifti's ONE debut.

The injury is a significant blow to what had promised to be one of the most compelling title fights of the year. Phetjeeja, 28, has been one of the most dominant forces in the atomweight striking divisions since arriving on the ONE stage, and her absence from The Inner Circle 28 leaves a void that will be difficult to fill.

"The Queen" built her championship reign on a foundation of relentless finishing ability. She made an electrifying start on the ONE roster, reeling off four TKO victories in Muay Thai matchups to earn a six-figure main roster contract before setting her sights on kickboxing gold.

She defeated the one of the most iconic women’s strikers Anissa Meksen to claim the ONE Interim Atomweight Kickboxing World Championship in 2023, before unifying the title against Janet "JT" Todd to become the undisputed queen of the division.

A successsful title defense against Japan's Kana "Krusher Queen" followed, and Phetjeeja then returned to her Muay Thai roots before challenging Allycia Hellen Rodrigues for the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title in a bid for two-sport glory, suffering a defeat.

The Greek challenger who must now wait for her moment is no ordinary debutant. Prifti, 24, is a decorated striker who carries a 25-3 career record into her delayed ONE bow.

The former K-1 Women's Flyweight Champion, who claimed that title with a victory over Japan's Kana, also holds a win over fellow ONE striker Tessa De Kom and brings several other championship accolades to the table.

ONE Championship has not yet confirmed any new date or arrangement for Prifti's promotional debut. For Phetjeeja, the priority now is a full recovery, with the kickboxing throne still firmly beneath her and plenty of unfinished business waiting on the other side of rehabilitation.