ONE Championship: Meng Bo plans to ‘effortlessly’ finish Ritu Phogat in atomweight grand prix
- Chinese fighter shakes off slew of opponent changes amid chaotic preparation for ONE: Empower
- ‘I know no matter who is going to stand in front of me, I’m fearless ... that’s what makes a true fighter,’ Meng says
Meng Bo has had to alter her preparations for ONE Championship’s atomweight grand prix not once, not twice but three times.
The 25-year-old Chinese fighter’s confidence has remained intact regardless, however, with Meng (17-5) now locked in to face Ritu Phogat once again at ONE: Empower on September 3 in Singapore.
“I don’t think her energy is much more powerful than me because no matter how many times she can wrestle me, I can just finish her easily – effortlessly,” Meng told the Post.
Initially matched up with “The Indian Tigress” in May, the plan hit several snags – first when Phogat (5-1) suffered her first loss in a shock split decision defeat by Bi Nguyen, before rebounding with a unanimous judges’ call against Lin Heqin last month.
In between the two fights, Phogat was bounced from the eight-woman tournament, first in favour of Julie Mezabarba, and then the Brazilian’s fellow newcomer “Thai Kitten” Grace Cleveland, with a postponement because a Covid-19 surge in Singapore thrown in for good measure.
“Yes, my match-up has been constantly changing recently but it doesn’t trouble me at all,” Meng said. “Not even in the slightest way, because I know no matter who is going to stand in front of me, I’m fearless.