In a shock announcement, female Muay Thai fighter, Iman Barlow, has a today, on Monday, April 8 2024, announced her retirement from professional competition.
With 128 fights throughout her lustrous career, Iman Barlow has achieved more than most could ever dream of.
She was a seven-time Enfusion Kickboxing World champion, as well as Lion Fight and Muay Thai Grand Prix World champion before signing for ONE Championship.
With so many accolades to her name, many people considered Iman Barlow the greatest female Muay Thai fighter the UK has ever produced.
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Iman Barlow retires from Muay Thai
In an emotional video, Iman Barlow talked about her career achievements. She also thanked everyone that has helped her throughout her career and said she hopes her achievements can inspire the next generation of female Muay Thai athletes.
She also hinted at her reasons as to why she’s decided to retire from fighting.
Having competed just twice since signing for ONE Championship almost four years ago, she said she struggled to deal with the inactivity.
She added;
I’ve asked to go my own way so I don’t have to retire, but this was declined.
This suggests she’d asked if she could fight outside of her ONE Championship contract, but it was declined. Therefore, she’s been left no choice but to retire.
Iman Barlow’s ONE Championship history
Barlow made her long-awaited ONE Championship in November 2022. She earned a $50,000 knockout bonus with a first-round demolition of Daniela Lopez.
She then went on to earn a unanimous decision victory over Ekaterina Vandaryeva, but has since been inactive.
Many believed she was next in line for a title bout against current ONE Strawweight Muay Thai world champion, Smilla Sundell.
Many people took to social media to ask why ONE Championship hadn’t offered the title fight to the much deserving Iman Barlow, however, ONE CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, told SCMP Martial Arts that it was in the works.
The clarity on the situation is uncertain, but one thing is for certain — the sport has lost a superstar in Iman Barlow.