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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Drex confident of sister Denice's chances against South Korean veteran

Drex confident of sister Denice's chances against South Korean veteran

Published Mar 26, 2021 06:27 pm
denice drex
MARROK FORCE STYLE - The Zamboanga siblings, Denice (left) and Drex (ground), are getting ground game pointers from their coaches at Marrok Force in Bangkok, Thailand. (ONE Championship)

Filipino fighter Drex Zamboanga is rooting for no less than her sister Denice against South Korean veteran Seo Hee Ham in the inaugural women's atomweight grand prix at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on May 28.

Under an all-female card in ONE: Empower, the younger Zamboanga, who holds an undefeated record of 8-0, will lock horns with a fighter from South Korea who has a 23-8 card.

READ: Zamboanga out to prove doubters wrong in atomweight grand prix

The bout will be classic youth versus experience storyline but for Drex, it will boil down to their physical conditioning. And the Marrok Force, Zamboanga's Thailand-based team, is preparing well for that.

Drex, who scored a submission victory against Thai foe Detchadin Sornsirisuphathin in his ONE Championship debut last August, added that Denice must enter the Circle "in the best shape of her career."

READ: Zamboanga expects tough challenge against South Korean foe

“I think it's a great matchup. Obviously, having trained martial arts with Denice basically since we were young, I know her capabilities. She's not just talented, she also has work ethic and I know she's working hard towards achieving her dreams,” said the 31-year-old Zamboanga.

"It's going to take a tremendous effort to defeat Ham, but Denice is up for the challenge. We're working on a strong game plan for this fight."

Drex is confident that her 24-year-old sister will dominate the tournament, capture the grand prix title, and eventually dethrone current atomweight queen Angela Lee.

Denice, for her part, expressed gratitude to Drex for the continuous support and guidance, especially after bagging twin victories in ONE: A New Breed last August.

"It's a really big help for me because he’s been on my side when I started martial arts," said Denice. "So he knows what -- what's my weaknesses, he knows what my strengths , he knows my skills and everything. So it's really a big help for me my brother is on my side." (Carlo Anolin)

READ: Chilean MMA coach sees bright future for Zamboanga siblings

Related Tags

Drex Zamboanga ONE: Empower Seo Hee Ham Denice Zamboanga ONE Championship ONE
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