“I'm very relatable to them” - Jackie Buntan grateful for Filipino fans’ unconditional support on and off the ring
Jackie Buntan may not have grown up in the Philippines but she still feels all the love from the motherland.
The skilled Filipina-American striker has grown a large following over the years due to her incredible talent and relentless fighting style.
A big chunk of her supporters, of course, are Filipino fans who always cheer for her whenever she takes center stage in the world's largest martial arts organization.
In an interview with ONE Championship, the Boxing Works affiliate addressed why people from the Philippines embrace her, despite residing in California all her life:
"First of all, I always love the Filipino fans. You know, they take me in. I'm sure you hear it, not only just Filipinos, but any other culture, if you're born in America, some people are like, ‘Oh, are you really Filipino? Or are you really Hispanic?’ Whatever."
Buntan continued:
"But the Filipinos really took me in and I think I'm very relatable to them. Not just as an athlete, but just as your normal Filipino daughter, Filipino-American sister, or whatever."
Buntan is indeed grateful to her adoring fans, who stick by her through the good and bad. The 27-year-old even received an outpouring of support when she took a brief break from fighting last year due to personal reasons.
Anissa Meksen unimpressed by Jackie Buntan's skills
After going 6-1 under the ONE banner, Jackie Buntan will get another crack at 26 pounds of gold at ONE 169, where she'll vie for the inaugural women's strawweight kickboxing crown.
Standing in her way, however, is one of the most decorated female strikers of all time, Anissa Meksen. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, 'C18' didn't hold back about criticizing Buntan's style, calling it one-dimensional and predictable.
Meksen said:
"She has good boxing but she does the same thing all the time. She has a very good one-two-hook combo. She’s good when she goes forward. That’s it. I faced a lot of strong opponents, and for me, she’s simply just another strong opponent."
ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug will air live in US Primetime on Nov. 8 from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The full event is free of charge for Prime Video subscribers in North America.