"I'm in no condition to fight" - Denice Zamboanga pulls out of ONE Fight Night 25 interim title tiff with Alyona Rassohyna
Denice Zamboanga has bowed out of her supposed interim atomweight MMA world title showdown against Alyona Rassohyna at ONE Fight Night 25.
This pivotal clash in the women's 115-pound ranks, which was supposed to co-headline the October 4 card at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, will no longer push through after the Filipina suffered a hamstring injury in training.
The second-ranked atomweight MMA contender regretfully confirmed the news to Nissi Icasiano of The MMA Superfan:
"But now, during my last camp for the interim championship, my injury got worse so I don't have a choice but to pull out because I can't force it anymore. I'm in no condition to fight at the highest level."
This somber development certainly adds to Denice Zamboanga's world championship woes.
'The Menace' was initially booked to challenge atomweight MMA world champion Stamp Fairtex at ONE 167 last July. The injury bug, however, put a dent in those plans after the Thai begged off due to a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Zamboanga has won her last three fights, including a dominant unanimous decision win over Stamp's replacement Noelle Grandjean at ONE 167.
Watch Denice Zamboanga's full interview:
Confirmed bouts for ONE Fight Night 25 after Denice Zamboanga pulled-out
ONE Fight Night 25 will be headlined by the highly-awaited rematch between lightweight kickboxing world champion Alexis Nicolas against the division's former long-time ruler Regian Eersel.
'Barboza' pulled off the upset for the ages when he ended 'The Immortal's 10-0 run in the world's largest martial arts organization last April.
Here are other confirmed fights for ONE Fight Night 25:
Ayaka Miura vs Jihin Radzuan (atomweight MMA)
Bokang Masunyane vs Mansur Malachiev (strawweight MMA)
Kongthoranee Sor Sommai vs Tagir Khalilov (flyweight Muay Thai)
Danial Williams vs Banma Duoji (flyweight MMA)
ONE Fight Night 25 will air live in US Primetime free of charge for those with a Prime Video subscription in the United States and Canada.