French-Algerian Anissa Meksen needs little introduction to fight fans. At 36, her record speaks for itself – it is a catalogue of world titles across both kickboxing and Muay Thai. Since 2017 she has never been outside of the top-two female pound-for-pound kickboxers on the planet.
In 2021 she made her way to ONE Championship – looking to cement her legacy with a world title in the globe’s biggest martial arts organisation. Three impressive wins saw her on the brink of this achievement, but Phetjeeja would ultimately deny her the ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Title last December.
Despite that disappointment, there is now another opportunity. In June, at ONE Fight Night 23, the ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion will be crowned for the first time with Meksen and Filipino-American Jackie Buntan set to square off.
At 26, Buntan represents the younger generation of fighters in ONE Championship, but has already built herself an impressive 6-1 record with the organisation. The only blot on her report card coming at the hands of teenage sensation Smilla Sundell, no shame there.
Buntan has often been preceded by a lot of hype throughout her career, but has consistently been able to back it up – and now finds herself one step away from fulfilling all the excitement that has gone before her.
Twenty-six pounds of world title are on the line in a classic tale of the experienced legend taking on the exciting youngster ready to take over the mantle.
We know from their styles this has the potential to be an instant classic with Meksen hoping to fill her trophy cabinet with a strap that has thus far eluded her.
ONE Fight Night 23 will take place in the early hours of June 6 in the Middle East, coming live from the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.