Alma Juniku’s Upbringing Made Her Into A World Champ

ONEchampionship.com

The stakes could not be higher for Alma Juniku at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST as she competes for her sport’s biggest prize in her ONE Super Series debut.

She will face two-sport ONE World Champion Stamp Fairtex for the ONE Atomweight MuayThai World Title next Saturday, 15 June in Shanghai, China, but the Australian is not fazed by the challenge ahead.

Despite being just 18 years old, Juniku has already won the WBC and IPCC Muay Thai World Titles, defeated top-level opponents, and she has no doubt she can continue her success at the Baoshan Arena when she challenges the surging Thai superstar.

Before she steps onto the global stage for the first time in a bid to become the youngest World Champion in ONE Championship, the Modern Warrior Muay Thai representative reveals how she learned her amazing skills and confidence.

Taking The Early Lessons For Success

Juniku’s parents emigrated from Albania and raised her and her older brother and sister in Logan City, just south of Brisbane, Southeast Queensland. 

“Logan City is a bit of a rough area with violence and crime,” she offers.

“I grew up in a nicer area, so it wasn’t too bad, a little bit rough, but it made me the person I am today – maybe tougher.”

Her parents were strict, but they worked hard to give their kids everything they needed. Even though Juniku pushed a few boundaries as an energetic youngster, she learned lessons in respect and work ethic from them.

“As a kid, I was a bit cheeky and stubborn, and I just always liked to have fun,” she recalls.

“My parents were strict and very hard workers because they had nothing when they came here, so it taught all of us to work hard for what we want.”

A Different Path

Juniku’s father was a professional soccer player, and he tried to get his children to follow in his footsteps. At first, they obliged, but as soon as they encountered martial arts, their goals quickly changed.

A neighborhood friend had started to train Muay Thai, and suggested that they went along too.

“He said to us, ‘You should try this, I’m really enjoying it, it’s fun,’” reveals the 18-year-old.

“My brother [tried it first], and me and my sister waited around. We didn’t know if it was a sport for girls. He said it was fun, so we got into it, and ever since then we fell in love with it!”

Juniku was 8 when they all began training at Modern Warrior Muay Thai – the gym they still call home today. By the time she was 9, she had started to compete in “the art of eight limbs” alongside her siblings.

“It was a blessing in our life,” adds the ONE World Title challenger.

“I’m really happy that me and my brother and sister all train together and fight professionally together because we all get advice from each other.”

Against Her Father’s Wishes

Despite all three of the Juniku children finding their passion in combat sports, their parents were not as thrilled with their new endeavor, especially her father, whose own heart was in a different game.

He resisted their choice at first, but then came around when he saw how dedicated they were to the craft.

“[My father] was heartbroken that all of us quit soccer. It was his sport, and he was hoping we could make a career out of it. As I grew older and had lots of success, my dad understood, and then he was very happy for me.

“My mother was scared of me getting injured or badly hurt, but she realized that it wasn’t that bad when I was younger. We had padding, and then she just got used to it.”

When they saw that their children had committed themselves to success in a sport that they loved, they did everything they could to nurture their talent.

“They couldn’t give much, but they gave all that they could to pay for our training and support us,” Juniku adds.

Success At The Highest Level

From her first contest aged 9, to World Title success by 18, and now a shot at gold in the world’s largest martial arts organization, Juniku’s career in the ring has been a phenomenal success.

From the moment she stepped through the ropes, she has never taken her foot off the gas in pursuit of greatness, and she now boasts an impressive 24-4 professional record.

Given how much she loves to compete, it is not so surprising that she has more wins than many martial artists with twice her experience can claim.

“From the first fight with the adrenaline, the audience, and the atmosphere, I just really loved to be in there,” she says.

“The hunger for showing your skills and the hunger for the win meant I was crazy active – I had the drive to win and get more fights, and to just get better.”

In December 2018 she defeated Zaza Sor Aree for the WBC Muay Thai World Title and earned her spot among the Muay Thai world’s elite in ONE Super Series.

Now she has her chance to take the top spot when she meets Stamp in Shanghai, and she will give everything in her power to take home the victory.

“I hope you’re well-prepared Stamp. I hope you’re ready,” she says.

“We’re going to have a really good, hard fight, and I’m coming for that belt!”

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