Jackie Buntan will make her kickboxing debut against veteran and former pound-for-pound queen Anissa Meksen for the inaugural Strawweight Kickboxing Championship on July 5 in Bangkok, Thailand.
A newly formed division for ONE's women's kickboxers, as the promotion previously only had the Atomweight belt up for grabs.
The Filipino-American fighter fought for the inaugural Strawweight Muay Thai title against Smilla Sundell two years ago, but ultimately failed to capture the belt. Since then she's been faultless, scoring three big wins and calling out for a rematch with Sundell – first expressing her interest in competing under kickboxing rules.
Though this seems like a perfect setup to either create a new two-sport champion or fuel a rivalry between Buntan and Sundell, Meksen looks to spoil these plans and acquire what she came to ONE to do – win belts.
Despite a messy time at ONE involving contract disputes, cancelled fights, and in her not getting the title shot she wanted against Janet Todd, she had finally got the opportunity to fight Petchjeeja for the Interim Atomweight Kickboxing title but came short, losing a unanimous decision against the surging Thai star. She will look to redeem herself this fight and finally add a ONE belt to her collection.
This will be the heaviest weight Meksen will have competed at, after her GLORY title reign at 55 KG and her ONE Championship run at an even lower 52.2 KG.
