It has been over a month since Denice “The Menace Fairtex” Zamboanga stopped two-time World Title challenger Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi at ONE: KING OF THE JUNGLE in Singapore, but she has yet to celebrate the win with her family in the Philippines.
That is because Zamboanga is at Fairtex Training Center in Pattaya, Thailand riding out the COVID-19 travel restrictions and awaiting the chance to return to her hometown of Quezon City.
“The Menace Fairtex,” who spends her training camps at the famed gym on the northern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, is filled with emotion as she waits for the pandemic to be contained.
“I feel different emotions right now because I am away from [my family],” Zamboanga said.
“I feel sad and scared of course because I am not with my family during this time of crisis. I just make sure to check on them every day and know that they are safe.”
On the flip side, Zamboanga is grateful that she found a second family at Fairtex, a gym that has made her feel secure and at home during these trying times.
“I am thankful because Fairtex has always taken care of me,” she said. “They attended to me and in a sense.”
Since she is stuck in the gym, the Filipina has more time to train and polish her skills.
She has already been granted a shot at reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion ”Unstoppable” Angela Lee, and though it is still uncertain when the bout will happen, she is readying herself.
For now, all she could do is wait, prepare, and hope for the best while the world battles this pandemic.
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