Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon has had mixed results as a fully-fledged member of the ONE Championship roster. But at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks v Balart this weekend, he has a chance to set sail for the top of the bantamweight Muay Thai division.
The 21-year-old phenom face Ireland's Craig Coakley at the Aug 3 blockbuster that takes place at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium.
After becoming the first fighter to claim a 3.5-million-baht contract on the ONE Lumpinee platform in April 2023, Rambolek was unable to capitalise, and he fell to a pair of defeats.
He steadied the ship with an impressive win over Soner Sen this past February, a win that silenced the doubts that had crept into his mind.
"I lost two fights in a row after I got the ONE Championship contract. At that time, I admit that I felt quite uncomfortable. I didn't want to lose two fights in a row. I just went all out in the ring. But I made a mistake, so I lost. It hurt because I had the chance, but I didn't do my job properly. I was disappointed in myself," he said.
"I admit that my confidence decreased. But now my confidence is back after I bounced back to the winning side by beating Soner Sen. It made me feel like I have more power. I have more belief that I will be able to come back and make a statement at ONE Fight Night."
It is said that a loss is only a loss if you don't learn from the experience.
Despite the disappointment of his barren start to life as a ONE fighter, Rambolek has returned reinvigorated. The former Channel 7 Stadium champion plans to show off his improvements and repay the faith of the ONE brass with another huge performance at ONE Fight Night 24 against Coakley.
"After I lost, I always thought that if I had the opportunity to come back and fight at ONE Fight Night again, I would give it my all like my life depended on it. I want to come back and make a statement," he said.
"I changed many training methods. Sports science was brought in to help. I had to force myself to work harder. No matter how tired I was, I had to practice so that I could develop to be better and worthy of the world stage.
"I want everyone to believe that I deserved to be the first one from ONE Lumpinee to get the contract."
