Stamp promises to 'recover quickly' for showdown with close pal Denice Zamboanga: "I will fight you soon"
Stamp Fairtex remains keen to give second-ranked Denice Zamboanga a shot at her ONE atomweight MMA world title.
The three-sport queen was forced to withdraw from her scheduled title defense against the Filipina warrior at ONE 167 earlier this month after rupturing the meniscus in her left knee just weeks out from the June 7 show.
However, after going through surgery on May 20, and appearing to be in a much better position with active physical therapy sessions underway, the Fairtex Training Center affiliate wants nothing more than to give her former teammate a well-deserved opportunity at the 26 pounds of gold.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News, the 26-year-old said:
"Denice, I will fight you soon. I'll try to recover quickly until my body returns to 100 percent and defend my belt in my next fight with you."
Though it was yet another unfortunate turn of events in Zamboanga's bid for the ONE world title, 'The Menace' had no qualms as she remained on the card in a featured atomweight MMA contest against short-notice replacement Noelle Grandjean.
With her victory against her French-Thai counterpart, who also spent a spell training alongside Zamboanga and Stamp at the Fairtex gym, the Filipina contender made it three successive wins on the global stage of ONE Championship.
Denice Zamboanga wants an interim crown if Stamp's return is postponed
In the event that Stamp does not make a quick return to the ONE Circle, Zamboanga thinks that the promotion should introduce an interim strap for the talent-jammed atomweight MMA division.
Speaking to Sportskeeda MMA following her victorious outing at ONE 167, 'The Menace' offered:
"I want to be active in this division. If I can get an interim or something else that will be great. For the [interim world title], I'd fight anyone."
Watch her fight at ONE 167 via replay, available to North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.