Janet Todd Does Not Mind ‘Underdog’ Label Ahead Of World Title Clash

Pan-American Muay Thai Champion Janet “JT” Todd will be stepping into the biggest test of her career as she faces Thailand’s Stamp Fairtex for the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship at ONE: CALL TO GREATNESS on Friday, 22 February at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

In just her first appearance with ONE Championship, Todd gets quite the debut assignment, as she faces the reigning ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion in Stamp, who is looking to become the first two-sport World Champion in ONE history.

“It will be my first World Title, so obviously I’m super excited about it. I really want to prove to everyone that I’m worthy of that title,” Todd told ONEFC.com.

Rather than looking at it as a baptism of fire, Todd sees it as a massive opportunity and the realization of a lifelong dream.

“I always said I wanted to be the best in the world, and it’s literally the opportunity right in front of me. It’s a dream come true,” said Todd.

Against Stamp, Todd faces a tremendously-experienced competitor who has over 80 professional bouts and a World Championship to her name.

The 33-year-old California native relishes the opportunity to test herself against one of the best in the world.

“I knew she was a good technical fighter, and I like fighting fighters like that because it makes me step my game up and challenges me to be better,” Todd expressed.

“She’s very technical, and she has very good timing, which is something you want in a fighter.”

A multi-titled competitor herself, Todd believes she has garnered enough experience to be able to give Stamp a run for her money.

“Fighting in these international tournaments, I’ve been able to see a lot of different styles from different countries,” she explained.

“It made me learn to adapt a little bit and kind of adapt my style, so I’m a little bit more well-rounded from having to fight those different styles, and then adapting those different styles. I think that’s where my advantages lie.”

In her ONE Super Series debut, Stamp was spectacular as she turned back former titleholder Kai Ting Chuang to capture the ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Championship.

This came after Stamp made waves initially as a mixed martial artist in Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series, where she won her first bout via knockout.

Todd understands that facing a competitor as multi-faceted as Stamp, she could easily be seen as the underdog. This doesn’t concern Todd, however, as she is focused on showcasing her brand of Muay Thai on the global stage for martial arts.

“I think, either way, underdog or not, I feel like this is an exciting opportunity to go out there and show what my Muay Thai is about on such a large stage,” Todd explained. “It’s an exciting time for me.”