Phetjeeja has spoken about the pressure of chasing two-sport success as she prepares to face Allycia Hellen Rodrigues for the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title at The Inner Circle 19 on Friday, 19 June. The ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion said nerves remain part of every fight.
Pressure before every fight
The 24-year-old Thai star, known as the "Girl Who Could Defeat Boys, has a 210-6 career record and a perfect 8-0 ONE mark, with five wins by finish. Even with more than 200 professional fights behind her, she said she still feels nervous before entering the ring.
"To be completely honest with you, there isn't a single fight where I don't get nervous. A lot of people probably assume that since I've had over 200 fights, I'm just totally numb to it by now, Phetjeeja
said. "But for me, the nerves are there every single time. Every fight matters so much to me, so that anxious excitement is always there before I walk out, she said.
Rodrigues brings title defence test
Rodrigues, 28, from Brazil, has a 35-7 career record and a 5-1 ONE Championship slate. She is unbeaten in the atomweight division and won her Muay Thai crown on her ONE debut against Thai star Stamp Fairtex, underlining the level of threat she brings to Phetjeeja's challenge.
Phetjeeja said she is always ready in mental terms, but noted that technical gaps still need work. "Mentally I'm always ready to go. The gaps are usually in the technical details. Things I haven't spent enough time drilling or positions I'm not completely comfortable with yet. I just have to keep an open mind and put the work in, Phetjeeja said.
