ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jackie Buntan will carry the memory of her late father into the biggest match of her career when she faces Austrian striker Stella Hemetsberger for the vacant ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE Fight Night 35 on Friday, September 5, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Filipina-American has the chance to become a two-sport ONE Championship titleholder while honoring the legacy of her father, who passed away in December 2024 after a courageous two-year battle with colon cancer at age 64.
Jackie Buntan Opens Up About Father’s Cancer Battle
Jackie Buntan, age 28, has remained largely private about her personal struggles, but she recently opened up about her father’s battle with cancer to help others who are going through a similar situation. The reigning kickboxing queen revealed the emotional toll of watching her father’s health decline over an extended period.
“At that time, it was important for me. My father was dealing with that cancer battle for pretty much two years. Close people around me knew. There’s certain parts of my life I don’t share. It was important to share it, so other people who’ve had similar journeys or are experiencing it know that they’re not alone,” she explained.
The champion’s decision to open up about such a personal experience demonstrates her desire to connect with fans facing similar hardships and provide hope during their
darkest moments.
Filipino Food Culture Defined Father-Daughter Bond for Jackie Buntan
Buntan reflected on the special ways her father showed his love and care throughout his illness, particularly through the Filipino tradition of sharing food as an expression of affection. These simple moments became precious memories during their final days together.
“We’re Filipino. The biggest love language is food. He’d always make sure I was eating. If I visited him, he tried to feed me food. I know those were big things for him, that he was watching out and that he cared for me,” Jackie Buntan shared.
These acts of care represented his enduring love and concern for her well-being.
Champion Jackie Cherishes Final Memories With Father
Despite the pain of loss, Jackie Buntan finds comfort in the photographs and memories she preserved during her father’s final months. The visual reminders serve as a source of strength as she prepares for the most significant challenge of her professional career.
“It hurts to look back at the photos, but I’m grateful that I took them because it reminds me of the good times I had with him, and I’m fortunate enough to have that documented. That’s how you want to remember your parent, or whoever you lost,” Buntan revealed.
The emotional weight of competing without her father’s physical presence adds another layer of significance to her title bid against Hemetsberger. Victory would mark a historic achievement while serving as a tribute to the man who supported her martial arts journey.
ONE Fight Night 35 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, September 5. The action begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
