Kai Ting Chuang Wants To Inspire As The First Women’s ONE Super Series Champion

Kai Ting “Killer Bee” Chuang has her sights set on history as she bids to become the first women’s ONE Super Series World Champion.

The 23-year-old faces 19-year-old Muay Thai world champion Yodcherry Sityodtong for the inaugural ONE Super Series Kickboxing Atomweight World Title at ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS at Guangzhou Tianhe Gymnasium in China on 7 July.

A victory would cap off a remarkable life story that has taken her from the humblest of beginnings to a historic World Title bout, which will be broadcast to a potential audience of 1.7 billion.

Abandoned as a baby and left in an orphanage, Chuang was rescued by her grandmother, who officially adopted her. It meant she still had ties to her parents, but her relationship with them was irreparably damaged.

“My mother had a new family when I was less than 1 year old,” she explains.

“Even now, I cannot remember things clearly, other than how irresponsible my father was to leave me without saying a word. After that, we did not talk or speak about it any more.”

Raised by her grandmother, Chuang learned valuable life lessons and was instilled with strong values as she was brought up.

“My grandma taught me to be a responsible girl,” she recalls.

“She made me realise I do not need my parents, I only need only myself to live this life. She taught me to be kind and nice to people, and to be generous.”

With money tight at home, Chuang decided to take matters into her own hands and started working part-time selling fruit at a night market, while also taking up boxing in the hopes of landing a university scholarship.

“I just wanted to get the money from the scholarship so I could help my grandma, and make her not feel so much pressure,” she says.

“After I started to learn boxing, I felt like I was more focused, and it made me think more clearly. I became tougher than I ever was, and I could feel how it changed me every day by adding more and more strength.”

Chuang was a natural in the boxing ring, and earned the scholarship she so desperately wanted. Training under respected coach Wang Chung Yaun, she improved her boxing and then transitioned to kickboxing and Muay Thai, which she grew to love.

“I think they are very unique sports,” she says.

“I like to try something different than what other girls like to do.”

After completing her freshman year, Chuang turned professional as a kickboxer and quickly progressed in the sport, compiling a 16-5 pro record and winning three WAKO Kickboxing titles.

Her success alerted ONE Championship matchmakers, who snapped her up to be a part of the exciting new striking league, ONE Super Series.

Such was the esteem in which she is held, Chuang’s first bout will be for a World Title.

“ONE Championship is very famous. Everyone knows about it,” she says.

“But to me, the most exciting part is the fight itself, because I am achieving one of my goals.

“Being a World Champion has been my dream. This match means so much to me. I can leave my name in history as the first woman who won a World Title in ONE Super Series.”

And, as well as chasing her athletic dreams of becoming a World Champion, Chuang also wants to use her new platform to inspire others and let other young girls know that they can chase their dreams and find success.

“I want to tell girls that if I can make it, so can you,” she says.

“Do not run away from your dreams because of fear. The sweat and the pain you have been through will be nothing compared to the result you will get from it. The most important thing is you need to take the first step.

“I want to let people see that even a girl like me can stand on the world stage and succeed.”