Stamp Fairtex has heaped praise on 21-year-old muay Thai prodigy Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom ahead of her debut on ONE’s main roster against Spanish striking star Lara Fernandez at ONE Fight Night 12.
The pair will step into atomweight Muay Thai action on Friday, with the star-studded spectacle airing live and free on Prime Video for subscribers across North America from the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Despite her tender age, Phetjeeja boasts a phenomenal professional muay Thai record of 204-12, and she has also represented Thailand in Western boxing.
Those striking skills, coupled with her experience, Stamp says, will cause problems for former ONE world title challenger Fernandez.
“I think Phetjeeja is more dangerous because her punch and elbow are faster and sharper than Lara’s. Lara’s weapons are sharp but still slow,” she said.
“Phetjeeja also possesses Olympic-level boxing skill. She also has good muay Thai basics. All of her attacks are smooth as silk. She also has a high fight IQ.”
Fernandez rebounded from her unsuccessful challenge for the ONE interim atomweight world title against Janet Todd last July by scoring a decision victory over Thai star Dangkongfah Banchamek in December.
Despite the Spaniard’s hard-fought win, Stamp still saw openings in her game that Phetjeeja can exploit.
“For Lara, I watched her fight with Dangkongfah and Janet Todd. I think her attacks are slow, and there are a lot of openings in her defense,” she said.
“My bet is for Phetjeeja. And I believe she will get a KO win because I’m certain that Phetjeeja is faster and sharper than Lara.”
Phetjeeja has enjoyed a meteoric rise since making her debut in the ONE Friday Fights series in March.
“The Queen” was rewarded with a six-figure ONE Championship contract in May after reeling off two stunning first-round knockouts over Fani Peloumpi and Ines Pilutti at the weekly martial arts showcase.
According to Stamp, Phetjeeja has the potential to become a ONE world champion in the future, but the former two-sport titleholder stresses that it won’t be at her expense.
“I believe that Phetjeeja can climb up to be one of the top-5 ranked fighters. And if we have to fight against each other someday, I’m ready for it because I still want to become ONE’s three-sport world champion,” she said.
“So, I need to maintain my position in the muay Thai rankings. I will not let her take it away from me.”
