NO. 3 RANKED Women’s atomweight Denice Zamboanga and undefeated prospect Jhanlo Mark Sangiao are seeing action Saturday night, April 22, 2023, in ONE Fight Night 9 at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Zamboanga is up against Brazilian Julie Mezabarba in a crucial fight that could earn her a title shot.
After back-to-back defeats to Ham Seo Hee, the 26-year-old Zamboanga bounced back with a split decision over Chinese striker Lin Hequin on Dec. 12, 2022 in Parañaque City. She needs a win over Mezabarba if she wants to contend for the ONE Women’s atomweight belt currently hanging around the waist of Angela Lee.
Mezabarba is currently in a slump after losing her last two bouts. She bowed down to Thai star Stamp Fairtex by unanimous decision and to Jenelyn Olsim by split decision.
The 30-year-old Mezabarba is in dire need of a win. If she beats a contender in Zamboanga, she should break into the top five in the rankings.
Zamboanga is 9-2 with two wins by knockout and three by submission, while Mezabarba is 9-4-1 with three wins by knockout.
In the meantime, Sangiao takes on Argentinean submission specialist Matias Farinelli.
The 20-year-old Sangiao won both of his fights in the ONE Championship cage. He submitted both Paul Lumihi and Anacleto Lauron by a first round rear-naked choke.
The 38-year-old Farinelli is making his ONE Championship debut after fighting in Argentina-based Circuito Argentino Artes Marciales Mixtas (CAM). He’s just new to MMA and debuted last year. But he’s already racked up five wins, just last year, in which all ended by submission. He won the CAM bantamweight belt with a guillotine choke victory over Matias Hernandez.
Sangiao is 5-0 with four wins by submission and a win by knockout, while Farinelli is also 5-0 with all of his wins by submission.
The main event features a Muay Thai world championship bout between defending ONE bantamweight Muay Thai champion Nong-o Hama (256-54-10) and challenger former flyweight champion Jonathan Haggerty (19-4). (EKA)