MANILA, Philippines — The title protection of Filipina combined martial arts champion Denice Zamboanga should wait.
This as Zamboanga pulled out of her ONE Girls’s Atomweight MMA world championship bout later this 12 months.
Zamboanga was set to defend her title towards Japan’s Ayaka Miura in ONE 173: Superbon vs Noiri in Tokyo on Sunday, November 16.
Nevertheless, she mentioned that undisclosed “medical causes” pressured her to drag out of the cardboard.
“I used to be actually excited to defend my belt at ONE 173 towards Ayaka. I understand how sturdy and gifted she is, and I used to be trying ahead to testing myself towards such a worthy challenger. This was a struggle I’ve been making ready for and one I deeply wished to provide to the followers,” she posted on Instagram.
“Penning this makes my coronary heart break. It’s arduous, and it solely will get more durable every day. Sadly, attributable to medical causes, I’m unable to step into the Circle this time. It’s heartbreaking for me to drag out of this match, and I wish to sincerely apologize to Ayaka, to ONE Championship, and to all of the followers who had been anticipating this bout,” she added.
The 28-year-old was topped the ONE interim champion after securing a second-round TKO victory over Ukrainian contender Alyona Rassohyna in ONE Battle Evening 27 in January this 12 months.
She was presupposed to struggle for the undisputed championship towards Stamp Fairtex, however the latter relinquished her title in Could.
“This sport means all the things to me, and I promise I’m totally dedicated to coming again stronger. My ardour for preventing has not modified, and I’ll proceed to work arduous in order that I can as soon as once more characterize ONE on the highest degree after I return.”
There is no such thing as a timetable for Zamboanga’s return for now, however she apologized to Miura for pulling out.
Miura, alternatively, earned her shot on the gold on the power of a five-bout successful streak.
“I used to be actually excited to defend my belt towards you at ONE 173. I understand how sturdy and gifted you’re, which makes this much more heartbreaking for me. I sincerely apologize that I can not compete this time attributable to medical causes, and I hope we will share the Circle sooner or later,” the Filipina mentioned.
Regardless of Zamboanga’s withdrawal, Filipino champion Joshua Pacio will compete within the Japan card, as he takes on ONE flyweight MMA champion Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu for an opportunity to succeed in double-champ standing.