How Stamp Came Out From The Wilderness To Become An Icon

ONEchampionship.com

Before she became a two-sport ONE Super Series World Champion, there was a time when it seemed impossible that Stamp Fairtex would ever make it as a professional athlete.

A few years ago, the Thai hero – who will defend her ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST against Alma Juniku – was out of shape after she was forced to give up on her dream for almost a decade.

Born into a family of Muay Thai enthusiasts, Stamp first started training with her uncle and fatherat their makeshift gym when she was just 5.

She had a natural gift for the sport, won matches at temple fairs and local festivals, and quickly rose to the top of her division. However, after just a few years of competition, her pursuits in “the art of eight limbs” came to a premature halt when she was 9.

“I was really small and couldn’t find opponents. I was always having to give up weight, which my family didn’t like,” she explains.

“Also, I was a girl, so my parents didn’t see a future in Muay Thai for me. At that time, there weren’t many opportunities for women in the sport, and we weren’t allowed at the big stadiums in Bangkok.

“They thought it would be better for me to focus on my studies instead.”

By the time Stamp went to high school, her uncle’s gym had closed, too, which cut off one of her links to her sport.

However, her formative years had a left a deep impression in the youngster’s heart, and she never let go of her desire to return to the ring.

“I missed it, and I missed the competition. I wanted to show my friends I could still fight,” the 21-year-old says.

“In high school, I was a bit chubby. No one believed me when I told them I used to fight. I wanted to show people what I was capable of.”

A few years later, when she was 17, Stamp got the call to compete out of the blue.

“The mayor was hosting a big festival and wanted locals from the village to compete for him. He remembered me from before, and asked me to fight,” she explains.

“My dad told me not to fight. He said I was too chubby and out of shape, but my mom told him to let me do it if that was what I wanted.”

Stamp hit the road to get her fitness back and returned to her old gym, where she laid out an old piece of carpet to train on. There was not even a ring to practice in.

Stamp’s comeback brought her father and uncle together and captured the imagination of some local children who joined in the training. The gym had new life breathed into it, and was a hive of activity again.

Although she was not at her best in her first match back, she got her hand raised and refound her competitive fire.

“I trained for about a month, but it wasn’t the same. I felt tired and wasn’t recovering as quickly,” she admits

“Even when I fought, I still felt really tired. I had more experience than her, and used that to win. I felt like I could still do it, and I wanted to give it another go.”

It did not take long to get her form back, and Stamp was soon featured in main event contests on local promotions.

Following a string of wins, the teenager was scouted by the world-renowned Fairtex Training Center in Pattaya. After a week’s trial, she was invited to join the team as its first ever sponsored female athlete.

She has been there ever since, and now inspires people all over the world with her courage and ability on the global stage for martial arts.

“I’m so happy to return and help display Muay Thai to the world. There might be a lot of Thais on the world stage, but there are only a few women,” Stamp adds.

“Before, I was just known locally, but now I am becoming known internationally. I feel grateful for the opportunity, and don’t intend on wasting it.”