Savani Quintanilla is an American kickboxer known worldwide for her dedication to martial arts and remarkable success in the sport at an international level. Born in 1995 in Los Angeles, California, Savani showed an early affinity for combat sports from a very young age. Her passion and enthusiasm to learn different striking techniques eventually led her to discover the sport of kickboxing which would become her lifelong passion.
Savani started practising kickboxing at the age of 12 after begging her parents for years to enrol her in martial arts classes. Though hesitant initially due to safety concerns, her parents saw her commitment and allowed her to pursue her dream. She joined a local kickboxing gym and started training rigorously under coach Jeff Leal. Savani showed tremendous natural talent from the very beginning absorbing techniques quickly and improving at an astounding rate. Within a year of starting, she participated in her first amateur kickboxing bout at the age of 13 and won via TKO in the first round impressing everyone with her skills.
This early success motivated Savani to work even harder and she spent endless hours both in the gym perfecting her form as well as outside studying technique manuals and videos of legendary kickboxers to improve her game. She analyzed every aspect of her training and developed an intense fighting IQ at a very young age. By the age of 15, Savani had compiled an incredible 15-0 record in amateur kickboxing competing across California and capturing several regional championship titles in the process establishing herself as one of the top up-and-coming prospects in US kickboxing.
Some of the key aspects that set Savani apart from her peers and contributed to her rapid rise included:
- Brilliant athleticism and natural fighting instincts: Savani showed exceptional hand speed, reflexes, footwork and reaction time very early on which are difficult to teach.
- Relentless work ethic: She approached every training session with ferocious intensity and motivation to push her limits constantly working on weaknesses.
- Immaculate technique: Savani paid minute attention to detail perfecting each aspect of her style from stance to counters to combinations through endless drilling and shadow boxing.
- Strategic fight IQ: She developed a high fight IQ at a young age by studying footage and always analyzing her performances to learn.
- Mental toughness: Savani exhibited a killer instinct and championship mentality even as a teen never giving up and always looking to finish opponents.
By 16, it became clear Savani had outgrown the amateur ranks in the US. So in 2012, she made the difficult decision to leave home and pursue her kickboxing dreams on the international pro circuit which was considered the highest level in the sport at the time. She moved to Thailand, the mecca of kickboxing, to train full-time at the legendary Fairtex gym under Hall of Fame coach Yodkhunpon Sitmonchai preparing to make her pro debut.
In late 2012 at only 17 years old, Savani Quintanilla became a professional kickboxer. She made her pro kickboxing debut in Thailand against a seasoned Thai veteran winning via third-round TKO in an entertaining back-and-forth war that saw her relentless pressure and bodywork break down her opponent. This was the first of many battles Savani would have on the global stage over the coming years etching her name in kickboxing history.
In 2013, in only her third pro fight Savani achieved a major career milestone by defeating the #5 ranked flyweight via close decision in Japan elevating her status. She continued racking up wins dominating talented opponents from Asia, Europe and Australia with her diverse all-around game and high pace. Savani’s American-style pressure and combination punching were rare for the kickboxing scene at the time presenting difficulties opponents struggled to solve.
In late 2015, after climbing the ranks with 10 straight victories to start her career Savani was lined up for her first world title shot. At only 20 years old, she challenged the highly experienced Thai champion Yodsiam Sithchamuang for the WMC World Flyweight Muay Thai title in Bangkok. In a gruelling 5 round war showcasing Savani’s heart and determination, she dethroned the long-time queen via a razor-thin split decision in an instant classic that shocked the kickboxing world with her victory in the champion’s home country. Savani became the youngest American to ever capture a world Muay Thai title in the process.
This upset win catapulted Savani to stardom cementing her status as one of the rising stars of combat sports. She made two successful defenses of her WMC belt in 2016 outpointing top contenders from Japan and Thailand before injury troubles led to inactivity the following year allowing others to capture belts she once held. However, Savani was far from done and was hungry to reclaim her throne entering 2018.
After over a year on the sidelines nursing injuries, Savani Quintanilla made her long-awaited return to action in April 2018 at Lion Fight 60 in Las Vegas against former champion Anissa Meksen. In an action-packed 5 rounder, Savani’s pressure proved too much as she broke down the durable Frenchwoman en route to a close split decision win welcoming herself back to the sport in spectacular fashion. This statement victory put her right back into title contention.
Later that year in November 2018, the opportunity Savani had been waiting for arrived. In the main event of Lion Fight 65 in Kentucky, she would challenge Anissa “Lady Killer” Hakim for the Lion Fight Muay Thai Super Flyweight World Championship. In a matchup between two of the best pound-for-pound female strikers on the planet, Savani dictated the pace from the opening bell unleashing precision combinations and using well-timed clinching to wear down Hakim over 5 grueling rounds. After going the distance in a fiercely contested battle, Savani was awarded a unanimous decision capturing the Lion Fight world title and becoming a 2-division world champion.
This passionate performance solidified Savani Quintanilla as the top female Muay Thai fighter in the world and she has remained dominant since with four successful defenses of her Lion Fight belt against top contenders from Europe and Southeast Asia. In 2021, she added the WBC Muaythai world title to her collection by outpointing the #1 contender from Thailand further increasing her record to a scintillating 29-2.
Outside the ring, Savani is an inspiration for young girls looking to pursue combat sports. She gives back by hosting free seminars teaching self-defence techniques to empower women. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, hiking, painting and spending time with family/friends. Although living away from home for the majority of her career chasing her martial arts dreams across Asia and Europe, the American star remains true to her Mexican roots enjoying home-cooked meals, music and culture whenever possible.
At only 26 years old, Savani Quintanilla’s best days may still be ahead of her. As the longest reigning female Muay Thai champion today, she is considered the standard bearer of the sport raising its popularity globally. Her dazzling and aggressive come-forward style has earned her legions of fans across the world tuning in for her electrifying performances. Savani says she will continue fighting as long as her body allows while remaining eager to showcase her skills against rising contenders for any promotion. No matter the challenges ahead, she will keep overcoming obstacles and adding to her legacy as one of the all-time greats drawing inspiration from her amazing journey so far.
