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ONE Championship: Smilla Sundell says Muay Thai title defence against Anissa Meksen would be ‘very cool’

  • Strawweight champ welcomes fight with Meksen, whose claims for a kickboxing title shot at atomweight have gone unheeded
  • Thailand-based Swede, 17, is full of confidence after recent training sessions with Khamzat Chimaev and Stamp Fairtex

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Smilla Sundell speaks to Mitch Chilson after winning the ONE strawweight Muay Thai title at ONE 156. Photos: ONE Championship

ONE Championship strawweight Muay Thai queen Smilla Sundell is willing to defend her title against anybody – and that includes atomweight striking superstar Anissa Meksen.

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Meksen is considered one of the top female strikers on the planet, regardless of division, and after lopsided victories over Christina Morales and Marie Ruumet in the ONE Circle, the Algerian-French talent is adamant she deserves a title shot.

Sundell would be happy to grant her that opportunity.

Smilla Sundell welcomes

“I can do that,” the 17-year-old told the Post when asked about fighting Meksen. “I would do that. I’ll fight anyone. I like challenges.

“That would be very cool actually, because she’s got a big name.”

Sundell fights one division north of the 34-year-old Meksen, so the two would not ordinarily be on each other’s radar. However, Meksen might consider moving up to fight the Swede based on the complicated situation in her own weight class.

Reigning ONE atomweight kickboxing champion Janet Todd has not defended her title since she won it with a decision over Stamp Fairtex in February of 2020, and is now set to battle the debuting Lara Fernandez for the promotion’s interim atomweight Muay Thai title at ONE 159 on July 22 in Singapore.

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