Janet Todd Headlines ONE International Women’s Day Card in Retirement Bout

“Headlining this show is amazing to me, especially to be part of it with other strong female athletes.”
Janet Todd Headlines ONE International Women’s Day Card in Retirement Bout
Janet Todd Headlines ONE International Women’s Day Card in Retirement Bout /

Janet Todd headlines ONE Championship’s International Women’s Day card at ONE Fight Night 20.

Courtesy ONE Championship
Courtesy ONE Championship

It marks the first time that there will be an all-women’s card at Bangkok’s famed Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, as well as serves as the retirement fight for Todd.

“To do this at Lumpinee Stadium, which is the mecca for this sport, I’m grateful,” said Todd. “Headlining this show is amazing to me, especially to be part of it with other strong female athletes–some of whom I’ve shared the ring with and made me stronger. It’s an honor.”

Courtesy ONE Championship
Courtesy ONE Championship

The card airs tonight in primetime at 8pm ET on Prime Video. Todd is in the main event defending her ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Championship in a title unification bout against interim champ Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom, a 22-year-old kickboxing phenom.

ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong detailed Todd’s legacy as a pioneer in the sport.

“Janet won the world’s most prestigious belt in ONE, the first American female to do so,” said Sityodtong. “She is a pioneer, and she’s one of the best female strikers ever.

“We have the best roster of women on the planet, and we’re celebrating the way they inspire females all over the world on International Women’s Day. We are unleashing real-life superheroes, and that’s what Janet Todd is–and it is why she is headlining this Women’s Day card, which is stacked with the best martial artists.”

Courtesy ONE Championship
Courtesy ONE Championship

A qualified aerospace engineer who is also fluent in Japanese, Todd has excelled in engineering and martial arts. At 38, remains in her prime, but she has other goals to pursue outside of the sport.

“I’m ready for the next chapter,” said Todd. “It’s time to start a family and make an impact in a different way.”

More than the farewell to her kickboxing career, Todd sees this fight as the culmination of her unrelenting hard work and tenacity. And she now has one final chance to leave the sport in a manner which few do–in victory.

“This is why I entered the sport, for challenges like this,” said Todd. “It’s the epitome of the way I want my career to end.”


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Justin Barrasso
JUSTIN BARRASSO

Justin Barrasso has been writing for Sports Illustrated since 2014. While his primary focus is pro wrestling and MMA, he has also covered MLB, NBA, and the NFL. He can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com and followed on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.