With Extra Time To Prepare, Rodrigues Predicts Knockout Of Todd In World Title Unification Fight
ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues was primed and ready for her return to action last December, but her World Title unification bout against interim queen Janet Todd was pulled at the final hour.
Todd tested positive for COVID-19, which meant the matchup was postponed, but the two strikers are now set to square off in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 8 on Prime Video on Friday, March 24.
Although Rodrigues admits she was disappointed with the setback at the time, she’s been able to step back and take a less emotional view of the situation.
The Brazilian told to ONEFC.com:
“I was quite sad [when the fight was postponed], as I was feeling more than prepared and I was really looking forward to getting back in the ring.
“But it wasn’t our moment and I always leave everything in God’s hands. It’s not Janet Todd’s fault that she tested positive, and it’s clear that our health has to come first.”
Rodrigues has not competed since claiming the World Title from Stamp Fairtex in August 2020.
The 24-year-old then took a lengthy hiatus surrounding the birth of her first child, and despite feeling ready to return in December, she now sees the extra time as a positive.
In fact, the Phuket Fight Club representative says she feels stronger physically and more determined mentally after a few more months in the gym.
She explained:
“I certainly had more time to work on some things and improve others that I already felt comfortable doing.
“It’s been a long time since my last fight, so the desire to fight is getting stronger. And I try to put that desire more and more into each training session.”
Rodrigues Putting Extra Focus On Boxing
With Allycia Hellen Rodrigues out of action for so long due to her pregnancy and childbirth, Janet Todd stepped up to the plate and won the ONE Interim Atomweight Muay Thai World Title in her absence.
Rodrigues already believed she had the skills and mentality to defeat the American star at ONE on Prime Video 5 in December, but she’s used the past few months to focus on more elements of her arsenal.
The Brazilian said:
“I feel very comfortable with my elbowing and kicking game because it’s something I can do really well. But I’ve also been working a lot on my boxing.
“This postponement of the fight helped me to have more time to improve my boxing even more. I’ve been training every day since the postponement of the fight.”
While Rodrigues has long been confident in her ability to become the undisputed atomweight Muay Thai queen, she also expects to unify the belt in highlight-reel fashion.
And as ONE Fight Night 8 quickly approaches, she’s leaving no doubt about her intention to finish “JT” before the final bell.
She added:
“I’m going to knock her out. I believe we’ll exchange some blows in the first and second rounds, but the intention is to press from the beginning in search of the knockout.”
