ONE Championship boss Chatri hails Petjeeja after US$100,000 contract – ‘one of the greatest KO strikers on the planet’

Petjeeja puts division on notice after finishing France’s Ines Pilutti in first round of their atomweight Muay Thai bout at ONE Lumpinee

ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong looks forward to seeing the 21-year-old Thai ‘compete against the very best in the world’

Reading Time:2 minutes

Petjeeja tags Ines Pilutti at ONE Lumpinee. Photos: ONE Championship

Published: 5:51pm, 13 May 2023Updated: 5:53pm, 13 May 2023

Chatri Sityodtong feels that ONE Championship has a new Thai striking superstar on its hands after awarding a US$100,000 contract to Petjeeja Lukjaoporongtom on Friday night.

The highly-touted 21-year-old – nicknamed “The Queen” – earned her way to the big show with a second quick finish under the ONE Lumpinee banner at Bangkok’s famed stadium, getting a first-round TKO of Ines Pilutti in their atomweight Muay Thai bout.

She became just the second fighter to get the call up from CEO and chairman Chatri – who also rewarded Petjeeja’s countryman Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon last month – since ONE started searching for the best rising talent with its weekly Friday Fights cards at Lumpinee in January.

“Without a doubt, Petjeeja is one of the greatest pound-for-pound KO strikers on the planet with over 200 professional fights and a 90 per cent knockout rate,” Chatri told the Post on Saturday.

“I look forward to her competing in ONE Championship against the very best in the world.”

Petjeeja put away France’s Pilutti in less than three minutes, landing a salvo of body shots before a right hand to the temple sealed the deal late in the first round.

It was her second victory at ONE Lumpinee – having finished Greece’s Fani Peloumpi with a second-round body shot in March – and she stretched her impressive record to 204-12.