Filipino-American Muaythai fighter Jackie Buntan continues to scale the ladder for a potential inaugural ONE women’s strawweight Muaythai world title following another impressive win in ONE: Empower in Singapore on Sept. 3.
The 23-year-old Buntan, whose family hails from Manila but now in San Diego, California, put yet another Muaythai clinic when she outclassed Daniela Lopez of Argentina enroute to a unanimous decision win.
While Lopez opened round one with a forward march, Buntan was content to operate off the back foot and outstruck her opponent with flurries of punches and kicks. A thudding right cross-left hook combination wobbled the Argentine and displayed Buntan’s dominance in the opening three minutes.
Representing Boxing Works, Buntan earned a clear-cut unanimous decision after her impressive display of hard left kicks to the body and front kick to the Argentine’s face in the second frame.
In the third frame, Buntan also unleashed fast, accurate counters and a right cross-left hook combination to wrap up the bout.
It was a third straight victory for Buntan, who might secure one of the two top spots should ONE decides to inaugurate the world strawweight Muaythai world championship.
Earlier, Buntan said she is especially grateful for all the support she is receiving from Filipinos, despite having yet to visit Manila where her siblings were born.
Buntan’s family migrated to the U.S. before she was born. But despite being born an American, she was raised with Filipino values in a predominantly Filipino household. – Harley F. Palangchao
April 26, 2024
