5 Facts About Martine Michieletto Before She Faces Anissa Meksen
Martine “The Italian Queen” Michieletto is one of Italy’s most successful striking exports, and she is ready to showcase her skills on the global stage.
The 28-year-old Aosta native will face off against the legendary Anissa “C18” Meksen in a strawweight kickboxing clash at ONE: EMPOWER on Friday, 28 May, and fans can expect a world-class showing from the exciting European strikers.
Before her big debut at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, here are five fast facts about Michieletto.
#1 She Started Martial Arts In 2010
“The Italian Queen” was a sporty youngster who competed in athletics growing up, but in 2010, she changed her course dramatically.
That year, Michieletto started her martial arts training at Fighting Club Valle d’Aosta under Manuel Bethaz – a coach she’s continued working with to this day.
It didn’t take long for the pair to jell. The talented athlete embarked on her amateur career later that year, and by 2012, she was competing in the professional ranks.
#2 She’s Won Multiple World Titles
Along with her brief but decorated amateur career, Michieletto has swept the board with a mass of professional titles in both kickboxing and Muay Thai.
She worked her way through national and European gold, before making an impact at the world level.
One of the Italian’s finest hours came when she beat Maribel de Sousa for the ISKA Featherweight Kickboxing World Title in 2015, and the belt remains in her possession today.
- Alyse Anderson Plans To Expose Itsuki Hirata, Advance to GP Semis
- Xiong Turning ‘Fear Into Motivation’ Against Dangerous Nicolini
- Michelle Nicolini: Xiong Jing Nan Can’t Handle My Ground Game
#3 She Was The First Italian To Win IFMA Gold
In 2018, Michieletto traveled to Cancun, Mexico, to represent Italy in the prestigious IFMA Muay Thai World Championships.
After registering back-to-back knockout wins in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, she won the tournament with a decision over France’s Anaelle Angerville in the final.
In doing so, “The Italian Queen” became the first athlete from her country to win an IFMA World Championship gold medal.
#4 She Keeps Good Company
Michieletto is undoubtedly one of Italy’s finest-ever strikers, and she is well-acquainted with one of her nation’s biggest stars.
That star is Armenian-Italian striker Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan, who captured the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Championship and sports a ridiculous 104-2-2 (2 NC) career record.
The pair regularly competed on the same cards back in Italy, and they’ve even put in work together during training sessions.
#5 Her Best Friend Is Furry
When she’s not preparing for battle in the gym, Michieletto can be found hanging out with her best friend — an Alaskan malamute named Belle.
The Fighting Club Valle d’Aosta representative often shares pictures of her prized pooch on social media, and it seems like they’re always on the hunt for an adventure.
Read more: Anissa Meksen Predicts ‘Crazy Fight’ Against Martine Michieletto
