Phetjeeja defends title against Morimoto in Tokyo

Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom is preparing to defend her kickboxing title against Kana Morimoto in Tokyo. This match, part of ONE 172 on Sunday, is one of the biggest challenges in her career. Phetjeeja feels honored to compete in this fight. Morimoto is well-known in Japan as a former K-1 champion. Although she lost her first fight in ONE, she won her second match against Sweden’s Moa Carlsson in January. Phetjeeja, hailing from Thailand, boasts an impressive 14-fight winning streak. Phetjeeja respects Morimoto’s skills. She describes her as fast and powerful. To prepare, Phetjeeja has been focusing on improving her speed and strength. "I've been working on my speed, and I have done weightlifting to deal with Kana," she said. As the atomweight kickboxing champion at just 23 years old, Phetjeeja feels both pride and pressure. She was thrilled when she won the title but quickly realized the challenge of defending it. "It's a lot of pressure," she noted, acknowledging the weight of expectations that come with being a champion.