Nat “Wondergirl” Jaroonsak is preparing for a shot to knock off a World Champion at ONE Fight Night 14. Although the gold will not be on the line, it will be a chance to notch a win and set up a future meeting with heightened stakes. On Friday, September 29, the 24-year-old will square off against ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion Xiong Jing Nan in a special rules striking matchup.
Nat Jaroonsak Talks Title Shot Ahead of ONE Fight Night 14
The offer from ONE Championship was not something that was expected. But it was not something “Wondergirl” was going to let pass her by. The rules will see the two women exchange punches in four-ounce gloves.
“I was kind of surprised. When they said special rules, I thought it would be one round striking, one round MMA, just like Demetrious Johnson and Rodtang [Jitmuangnon]’s fight. My first thought was, ‘Why?’ But then I saw the opponent and said, ‘Why not?’ I want the fight. So, I accepted the fight,” Jaroonsak told ONE.
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Jaroonsak is no stranger to mixing it up with her wide array of strikes with Muay Thai experience under her belt. But with kicks, knees, and elbows stripped away, “Wondergirl” feels Xiong has an edge. “The Panda” has showcased devastating power in her hands during her reign over the strawweight division, and Jaroonsak knows how much experience factors into this matchup.
“Xiong has some boxing experience and more experience in small gloves than me. She has good hands as well. It’ll be a tough fight for me, but I’m happy. I prefer to fight with good fighters. I can be the underdog. One of my goals is to fight with good people rather than [remain] undefeated but with low-level fights,” the Thai star stated.
In preparing for Xiong, “Wondergirl” has been getting advice from an Olympic Gold Medalist. Manus Boonjumnong, who took gold at the 2004 Olympic Games, has been helping train Jaroonsak for the upcoming contest. But as a dedicated Thai athlete, she is still struggling to holster her entire arsenal.
“We brought in Manus to train for the fight. Training has been going well. I feel good about my training with him, and he’s teaching me a lot. Boxing is all about footwork and head movement. For me, it’s kind of hard, though. Like you can’t teep or kick with your legs. I can just use my two hands and upper body,” Jaroonsak detailed.
The special rules encounter will bring some added fun to a stacked lineup at ONE Fight Night 14. The bout is one of four women’s battles on top of the marquee for the event. But even with the spotlight on her, Jaroonsak is unsure what to expect when the bell rings.
Competing in a special rules bout brings an element of the unknown. “Wondergirl” is not sure what her opponent will do or how she will react when the match begins. She can only trust in the work she has put in and be ready to give the fans an exciting, action-packed matchup.
“I’m not really sure about my game plan. Xiong can fight both ways. She can go forward or backward, so my game plan depends on what she gives me. I’m not sure [how she’ll approach it] because this fight is not for the belt. It’s a special rules fight. So maybe she’ll go forward, aggressive, or just play it safe and try to score,” Jaroonsak said.
ONE Fight Night 14 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, September 29. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.
