Newly crowned ONE women’s strawweight kickboxing world champion Jackie Buntan of the United States and the Philippines have recently stated that the offer to fight French-Algerian kickboxing legend ‘C18’ Anissa Meksen did not leave room for doubt in her mind.
Last November, Buntan took on Meksen in the ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug event and won after five rounds by unanimous decision giving her the title of the first ONE women’s strawweight kickboxing world champion.
In what she describes as a blessing, the Boxing Works representative in the fight recalls that everything went as she wished.
Buntan recalled her experience with sincerity in an interview with Val de War of DeWar Report, and how she felt when she received the offer to fight Meksen for a more prestigious belt.
Discussion
The 27-year-old Filipina-American star said:
“When we first signed the contract I never really thought about who my opponent would be. Waking up and I realized that I was going to be fighting the best in MMA, and at the end of the day I only asked for one thing – it was a pro bout. It is unbelievable. The best kickboxer, the best fighter.”
Buntan is currently regarded as the greatest strawweight female kickboxer in the world after her victory against Maksen. Jackie accepts defeat, but only when it is ordained by Brian Popejoy, her coach. He accomplishes this through two simple but profound qualities: he possesses an open mind that is always willing to discuss possibilities with her, and refuses to tolerate complacency in Jackie.
These resonances have made her a world champion. The world’s largest martial arts organization has such a space that Buntan freely brings forth her slogs. It’s free. Esteemed athletes testify that their success is neither a consequence of striving nor luck: it’s always hard work.
