Thai Fighter Phetjeeja Beat 70 Boys, Now Chases 2nd Title

Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom started fighting at age 6 to help support her family in rural Thailand, but she had one unusual problem: there were no girls in her weight class to compete against. So she fought boys instead, and something remarkable happened.

She kept winning. Fight after fight, the young athlete defeated male opponents around her size, traveling across Thailand's provincial stadiums and sometimes competing twice in one day.

By the time most kids were entering middle school, Phetjeeja had already racked up more than 100 fights. Roughly 70 of them came against boys, earning her national fame as televised broadcasts showed audiences across Thailand the girl who could beat the boys.

Her training was just as intense. Phetjeeja regularly practiced with four or five male fighters at once, testing her strength and building the mental toughness that would define her career.

But her success almost ended everything. Once her fights gained national attention, Thailand's Sports Authority suddenly enforced existing regulations against male versus female competition, and Phetjeeja found herself with no one to fight.

"I was really disappointed because I had always been fighting against male fighters," she said. "There were no female fighters around. No one would fight with me."

For months, her career stalled. Promoters eventually matched her against significantly larger and older female opponents just to keep her active, but Phetjeeja adapted and continued her winning streak.

Why This Inspires

Today, Phetjeeja holds an incredible 210-6 record and reigns as ONE Women's Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion. On June 19, she'll challenge for the Muay Thai title, attempting to become a rare two-sport world champion.

Among those 70 boys she defeated was Songchainoi Kiatsongrit, whom she fought three times as a child. Years later, both compete in ONE Championship together, their childhood rivalry transformed into friendship on the global stage.

Phetjeeja credits those difficult years for everything she's accomplished. "Fighting male fighters shaped and strengthened my heart to be durable and patient until today," she said.

The girl who had no one left to fight became a champion who inspired countless others to step into the ring.