Denice, Drex Zamboanga home for holidays after training in Thailand for 2 years

ONE fighter Denice Zamboanga. ONE Championship photo

MANILA, Philippines—The Zamboanga siblings are going back to the Philippines after staying and training in Thailand for nearly two years.

Denise, the no.1 atomweight contender, and her older brother Drex flew to Thailand in March 2020, just before the world’s borders closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and decided to stay there with family friend Fritz Biagtan.

It was in Thailand that the siblings held their camps for their fights in ONE Championship.

Zambanga said that they will fly home on December 1 and spend the holidays with their families.

“Actually, I’m going home on December 1st. I’ll be home in December. All three of us, kuya Drex, Fritz [Biagtan], we’ll be flying back to the Philippines to spend Christmas there. I think it’s time,” said Zamboanga. “I just want to reset and re-energize myself. It’s been so long and I miss my family back home. I miss my mom’s home-cooked meals, all the street food, and all my friends. My older sister is going home too, so it’s going to be a family reunion.”

Zamboanga went 1-1 in her two fights first taking a submission win against Watsyapinya Kaewkhong in August 2020 before losing via split decision to Ham Seo Hee in the Atomweight Grand Prix.

Drex, meanwhile, submitted Detchadin Srosirisiphathin in the second round of August 28, 2020 fight.

Zamboanga added that she would’ve fought Alyona Rassohyna on December 3 but believed the Ukrainian pulled out of the match.

“I agreed to that fight and was getting ready for it, even if I only had a couple of weeks to really prepare for it,” said Zamboanga. 

“Honestly, I just wanted to fight again, so that I could get another one in before Christmas. Another win would have been great. But I think Rassohyna turned the fight down. I’m fully recovered from the injuries I incurred during the Seo Hee Ham fight, so I’m cleared to compete.”