Three Years Of Sacrifice And Setbacks Have Built Rambolek For ONE Friday Fights 147
Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon has been here before. Not at this level, not with this much on the line, but in the dark rooms of self-doubt that every fighter knows after back-to-back losses. He found a way through then. He is certain he will find a way through on Friday.
The 23-year-old Chaiyaphum native challenges ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane at ONE Friday Fights 147 on March 20 at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. It’s the biggest night of his career and the culmination of everything he has built since making history as the first fighter to earn a six-figure ONE contract through the weekly series.
Early setbacks nearly derailed that journey before it began. Back-to-back defeats threatened to close the door on his ambitions. He responded by winning four straight bouts, each performance more convincing than the last, until one fight stood between him and a world title shot.
That fight was against Dagestani knockout artist Abdulla Dayakaev in January. He was riding four consecutive stoppages and considered by many to be Rambolek’s toughest test. The Thai made it look methodical.
“We trained specifically to attack his body,” he said. “In the second round, I found the opening to his midsection and saw him start to wince. Once I knew I had the range, I just kept digging into his body until I got the win.”
The performance earned him a US$50,000 bonus and a date with the champion. What awaits him now is a problem of a different order entirely. Anane is 6-foot-3, carries wins over both Nico Carrillo and pound-for-pound great Superlek, and is riding an eight-fight winning streak. Rambolek respects him and has no illusions about the task.
“Nabil is dangerous everywhere,” he said. “I thought he only had his height, but he’s improved so much and gotten incredibly strong. I have to be perfect with my distance and timing to land my shots.”
The plan is to wear the champion down, probe with punches in the early rounds, and trust the finishing power that has ended his last three opponents.
“Unless I get knocked out cold, I’m not giving up,” Rambolek said. “I will fight with every ounce of my soul.
“I’ve worked for this for three years, dealt with all the criticism and the setbacks. I’ve pushed myself to become the number one challenger, and now I’m going to make this dream a reality.”
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