Vero “The Kayan Leopard’s” composure and world-class counter-striking were the difference in her tightly contested ONE Friday Fights 143 main event battle against fellow contracted star, Shir Cohen, helping her claim a split decision on February 20 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Their Asia primetime atomweight Muay Thai battle was fireworks from start to finish. When the bell sounded, the Israeli brought the fight to the Myanmar slugger at a ridiculous pace with big combinations.
But the 29-year-old kept her composure, reading the pressure and using lateral movement to create angles. Whenever Cohen pressed too hard and jammed herself up in close range, “The Kayan Leopard” made her pay, timing the clinch and driving knees into Cohen’s body to neutralize the aggression.
Cohen came out just as hungry in the second round, but the Tiger Muay Thai representative found her rhythm right off the bat. As she flung combinations, Vero slipped and responded with crisp punches that accumulated damage.
It was still anyone’s fight heading into the final frame. Cohen’s confidence was second to none, but Vero’s ability to drive away the Fairtex Training Center athletes’ offense with her counters were effective.
The Israeli continued to dig deep, raising her volume and refusing to let the Myanmarese settle. Despite having her back consistently against the ropes, Vero stuck to her counters and used Cohen’s forward momentum against her.
At the end of the nine-minute limit, two of the three judges at ringside awarded the contest in favor of Vero, who nudged her all-striking record to 30-4 and made it three back-to-back wins on the global stage.
After two consecutive victories, Myanmar sensation Vero “The Kayan Leopard” is now setting her sights on ONE Championship gold. But before she can think about a World Title opportunity, she must overcome the toughest test of her career to date.
On February 20, the 29-year-old will face Israeli standout Shir Cohen in an atomweight Muay Thai showdown at ONE Friday Fights 143, airing live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium.
Like Vero, Cohen arrives with serious credentials. The Israeli striker owns a 3-0 record in the world’s largest martial arts organization and was once positioned as a frontrunner for gold. That shared ambition only fuels Vero’s determination heading into their main event clash.
“The Kayan Leopard” said:
“I’ve fought in this event three times already. Each opponent was different, each style was different. My first fight was completely new for me – everything changed my life. It was very hard. In my second fight, I won by knockout. In my latest fight, I won by decision. My opponent was difficult, but I tried my best. I think I did my best and I learned a lot.”
Vero entered ONE Friday Fights 97 in February 2025 with considerable hype as one of Myanmar’s brightest striking stars. However, she suffered a narrow split-decision loss to Francisca “Miss Scarface” Vera in a fiercely contested battle.
Now, with her first main event assignment ahead of her, Vero understands the magnitude of the moment:
“This Friday is very important for me. It’s my first time fighting in the main event. It’s important for me and for Myanmar. Please support me even more.
“I’ve known Shir Cohen for a long time. Before she fought in ONE, I saw her fight at Fairtex [Fights]. She’s very good and she’s a nice person. We’re friends on Instagram. I’m happy many Myanmar fans also like her.”
Vero owns nearly 30 professional victories, many earned in her native sport of lethwei, and has steadily adapted to ONE’s 4-ounce Muay Thai format.
The smaller gloves reward sharper focus and punish hesitation, lessons she has embraced through experiences that have only strengthened her resolve.
She said:
“I came here to become a champion. And for everyone in Myanmar who believes in me, this Friday I will show the best version of myself. I don’t care about pain. I’m ready.”
At ONE Friday Fights 143, Vero will meet Shir Cohen in a matchup between two surging contenders with World Title aspirations.
Cohen enters with a perfect 3-0 promotional record and refined striking fundamentals. The Israeli athlete blends speed, sharp combinations, and intelligent movement, making her one of the division’s most technically polished competitors.
Having studied her upcoming adversary closely, Vero said:
“Her style leans toward kickboxing. Her punching fundamentals are very good. Her Muay Thai is good too, but I think she stands out more in kickboxing. She’s fast and she fights smart. But I believe I have heavier hands and stronger impact.
“I think she’s not as strong in the clinch. When she punches, sometimes she walks forward too much. If she meets someone who fights smart and intercepts well, that could be a problem. That’s what I think. I’ve studied how to deal with her.”
Cohen was previously scheduled to challenge ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues at ONE Fight Night 29 last year before an injury forced her to withdraw. That missed opportunity stalled her pursuit, and this bout marks a crucial step in rebuilding that momentum.
Vero understands exactly what defeating such an opponent would mean:
“One year ago, she was scheduled to fight for the title. She’s very experienced. If I beat her, I should get a title shot too. She’s been here longer than me. Passing her is a very important test.”
The opportunity is clear. A decisive victory would place Vero firmly in the ONE World Championship conversation.
But beyond that, her focus remains on execution.
The Myanmar star said:
“My plan is to fight smart. I want to be a fighter who uses her brain, not just rush forward. I want to be relaxed but heavy. If there’s a chance to knock her out, I’ll wait for the moment and finish it. I want to win by knockout or by clear decision.
“If I win by knockout, I hope I can fight for the title next.”
Injuries have derailed Shir Cohen‘s World Title opportunities twice, but ONE Friday Fights 143 offers her a chance to reclaim what was previously within her grasp.
The Israeli standout can reignite her championship ambitions in Asia primetime at Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, February 20.
There, she faces surging Myanmar brawler “The Kayan Leopard” Vero in the ONE Friday Fights 143 main event, and the victor could potentially become the next person to challenge for the ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Title.
Cohen, the 2023 Road to ONE: Thailand winner, has taken the division by storm. She owns a blistering 11-1 professional record and three straight promotional victories, capped by snapping Amy Pirnie‘s 22-bout winning streak at ONE Fight Night 25 in October 2024.
That performance earned her a World Title opportunity against reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues at ONE Fight Night 29 in March 2025. However, an injury forced her to withdraw from the contest.
The battle was rescheduled for ONE Fight Night 32 last June, but she pulled out again due to another injury. Instead of rushing back into competition, Cohen took extended time off to heal and spent her recovery sharpening her weapons at Fairtex Training Center in Pattaya, Thailand.
Speaking to onefc.com, Cohen said:
“I’ve been away for over a year. It was a very challenging time for me because I couldn’t fight, and there were many things out of my control.
“I took this time to become a better fighter and a better version of myself. I kept training hard every day, kept improving my skills, and tried to be better every day.”
While Cohen laments the missed opportunities, she has used the adversity as motivation and remains hopeful to secure another chance to challenge for the divisional crown.
The path back to World Title contention won’t come easy, however. Standing across from her will be Vero, a Myanmar demolisher riding the momentum of back-to-back victories.
Known as “The Kayan Leopard,” Vero has showcased her destructive capabilities with crucial wins over Cohen’s teammate Junior Fairtex and Li “Miracle Girl” Mingrui.
Though wary of the 29-year-old’s proven finishing ability, Cohen believes her well-rounded striking arsenal can neutralize the power puncher and extend her winning streak to six fights.
The Israeli said:
“She’s a very good fighter. She has really good boxing and power, but I believe in myself. I believe in my hard work and my skills. I respect her, but we all come for the same goal. I come to win.
“My footwork and speed could be better [than hers], and could work for me for this fight. I’ve been working on it a lot, so I’m going to use this against her.”
The unfortunate circumstances and extended absence have only fueled Cohen’s determination.
After more than a year away, Cohen is hungrier than ever to prove her worth. She plans to deliver a statement-making performance that leaves no doubt about her place in ONE Championship.
She offered:
“In this comeback fight, I want to show how much I have been working and how hungry I am to fight again. I want to show that I deserve to be here.
“I will try my best to finish the fight. I know she is very strong, and she is very ready, but I’m confident in myself.”
Though focused on her upcoming bout, Shir Cohen will be paying close attention to one of the biggest super-fights in women’s striking history.
On Friday, March 13, ONE Fight Night 41 will be headlined by a ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship showdown between defending titleholder Allycia Hellen Rodrigues and divisional kickboxing ruler “The Queen” Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom.
Cohen, who holds deep respect for the two elite athletes, admits it’s nearly impossible for her to pick a side:
“They’re both really strong. Each one of them has their own style, strength, and game plan. I just can’t wait to watch it and see whoever wins.
“I can’t choose. Anything can happen in a fight, especially when it’s the small gloves, and it’s five rounds, so it’s very close.”
Ultimately, Cohen’s goal is to secure the next World Title shot, whether that means revisiting her twice-postponed clash with Rodrigues or becoming the first person to challenge Phetjeeja.
Either way, she dreams of making history as Israel’s first-ever ONE World Champion.
But before any grand ambitions can materialize, she must handle business against Vero at ONE Friday Fights 143. If she authors a dominant performance, then it would be hard to deny her.
Cohen said:
“I want to fight for the belt. I want to have the chance for a title shot. This is my dream, this is my goal. I will work hard for that to happen.”
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