Abby Montes has arrived in Serbia ahead of the biggest opportunity of her Power Slap career.
At Power Slap 22, Montes will face Sheena Bathory for the inaugural women’s 145-pound championship in a matchup that brings together two experienced combat sports athletes with proven knockout power.
Montes has already earned two victories inside Power Slap, but this fight represents an entirely different challenge. She will compete over a possible five championship rounds, headline a major international event and attempt to defeat one of the most respected women on the roster.
After a lengthy journey from Mexico to Serbia, Montes says she is fully focused on making weight, adjusting to the time difference and preparing to make history.
Abby Montes Arrived Early To Adjust In Serbia
Travelling from Mexico to Serbia required an exhausting journey that Montes estimated lasted nearly 45 hours.
Rather than arriving shortly before the event, she chose to travel early and give her body time to adapt to the significant time-zone difference.
“I’m super excited right now,” Montes said. “I’m already in Serbia. I needed to stay here for a couple of days to adjust to the time.”
The trip has been physically demanding, especially with Montes still needing to complete the final stages of her weight cut. However, she believes arriving early will allow her to settle into her surroundings and avoid unnecessary stress during fight week.
Her attention is now entirely on reaching the 145-pound limit and being ready when she steps onto the Power Slap stage.
Making 145 Pounds Has Been A Difficult Process
Montes had already prepared to compete at 145 pounds approximately one month earlier for what was supposed to be her professional boxing debut.
That fight was cancelled after her opponent withdrew at the last minute, but Montes still completed the weight cut.
Having to repeat the process so soon has made this camp more difficult.
“I made 145 one month ago,” she explained. “Right now, it’s a little harder because the weigh-ins are so close together.”
Montes believes repeated weight cuts can be particularly demanding on a female athlete’s body. Despite the challenge, she has extensive experience across combat sports and understands the discipline required to reach the limit safely.
“The weight is always hard, but I know this game,” she said. “I compete a lot.”
Montes Expects A Knockout In The Championship Fight
Montes has enormous respect for Bathory’s physical strength and ability to generate knockout power.
Bathory has produced some of the most memorable finishes in the women’s division and has built a reputation as one of Power Slap’s most dangerous competitors.
Montes is not intimidated.
“Sheena is very, very strong, and so am I,” Montes said.
The Mexican believes her neck, traps and overall physical conditioning will allow her to absorb Bathory’s power. She has made defensive preparation a major part of camp, knowing that a championship fight can last as many as five rounds.
Although Montes is ready for a long battle, she does not expect the judges to be needed.
“For sure, either Sheena or me, there will be a knockout,” she said.
With both women known for their strength, Montes believes the matchup could come down to which athlete is able to remain standing after absorbing the other’s best strike.
Bathory’s Powerful Strike Has Shaped Montes’ Preparation
Montes has studied footage of Bathory and identified the threat posed by her powerful right-handed strike.
Rather than attempting to avoid the danger mentally, Montes has structured her camp around being ready to receive it.
“I trained a lot for my neck, my traps and everything to stay strong,” she said.
Montes views the matchup as a meeting between two warriors who are both capable of ending the contest instantly.
That danger is part of what excites her.
She believes the combination of their athletic backgrounds, knockout power and willingness to engage will create one of the most compelling fights in the history of Power Slap’s women’s division.
Montes Is Embracing The Pressure Of The Main Event
Power Slap 22 will bring increased responsibilities for both championship competitors.
Montes expects additional media appearances, promotional commitments and attention throughout fight week. She will also need to wait until the end of the event before finally stepping onto the stage.
Her face is featured prominently on the event poster, placing her at the centre of Power Slap’s historic European card.
Montes believes she is ready for everything that comes with that position.
“I’ve been working for this every day,” she said. “Now I just want to enjoy everything.”
The pressure does not feel like a burden. Instead, Montes sees it as evidence that years of training and competition have prepared her for this moment.
Travelling Alone Has Become Part Of The Mental Test
Montes usually travels with members of her family, particularly her brother.
This time, she made the decision to travel to Serbia alone.
She wanted to prove that she could handle the unfamiliar environment without depending on the comfort of having her usual support system nearby.
“I decided to stay here by myself because I know this is different,” Montes explained.
She compared the experience to entering a war in unfamiliar territory. Serbia is far from Mexico, and many of the fans are expected to support Bathory because of Hungary’s proximity to the event.
Montes does not see that as a disadvantage.
She believes a true champion must be capable of performing anywhere, regardless of the crowd, location or circumstances.
Montes Expects Bathory To Be The Crowd Favourite
Bathory is Hungarian, and Belgrade is only a relatively short drive from Budapest.
That geographical advantage is expected to bring a significant number of Bathory supporters to the arena.
Montes fully expects to be treated as the visiting fighter.
When asked whether Bathory would be the fan favourite, Montes responded without hesitation.
“Yes, for sure.”
She also welcomed the possibility of competing against the crowd as well as her opponent.
For Montes, hostile support creates additional energy rather than pressure. She believes defeating Bathory in front of a largely European audience would make winning the championship even more meaningful.
This Is Montes’ First Power Slap-Specific Training Camp
Montes has previously balanced her Power Slap preparation with boxing, MMA and wrestling.
For this title fight, she changed her approach.
“This is my first camp focused completely on Power Slap,” she said.
Montes worked with a dedicated coach to prepare her body for the specific demands of a five-round championship contest. She temporarily removed sparring and wrestling from her schedule to reduce the risk of suffering an injury before the event.
That decision was difficult because Montes enjoys traditional combat training and regularly stays active across multiple disciplines.
However, she understood that protecting her body had to become the priority.
“I decided no more sparring and no wrestling because I didn’t want to get hurt,” she explained.
The result has been a more specialised camp built around power, defensive strength, recovery and mental preparation.
Mental Preparation Has Become Just As Important As Power
Montes has never questioned her physical ability.
She trains consistently, competes regularly and has already demonstrated that she belongs at the highest level of the women’s division.
During this camp, she focused more heavily on strengthening her confidence and mindset.
“I know I’m strong,” Montes said. “I have everything I need. I just need to believe in myself.”
A five-round title fight requires more than physical toughness. Montes understands that she may need to remain calm after absorbing a clean strike, maintain her technique under pressure and continue believing in her ability even if the fight becomes difficult.
Her goal is to enter the matchup mentally prepared for every possible scenario.
Winning The Belt Would Allow Montes To Leave Her Mark
Becoming a Power Slap champion was not part of Montes’ original career plan.
Her background spans multiple combat sports, and she once imagined that her defining achievement might come through MMA or boxing.
Power Slap presented an unexpected path.
“I always said that somehow I wanted to make history in sport,” Montes explained.
She now has the opportunity to become the first women’s 145-pound champion in Power Slap history.
For Montes, the discipline in which that achievement happens matters less than the achievement itself.
“I don’t care if it’s in a new sport,” she said. “I’m making history.”
Winning the championship would validate her belief that every opportunity has arrived for a reason and that she has been placed in this position because she is ready for it.
Montes Sees Bathory As The Perfect Opponent
There is no manufactured hatred between Montes and Bathory.
Montes views her opponent as a fellow warrior who shares many of the same qualities and interests.
Both women have competed in MMA, boxing, wrestling and other demanding athletic disciplines. They are also active on social media and have developed strong personal brands beyond Power Slap.
“Sheena is a very good person and a warrior too,” Montes said. “She loves challenges, just like me.”
Those similarities have made the matchup more meaningful.
Montes believes the fight is compelling because both women represent the same fearless approach to competition. Neither athlete was interested in receiving an easy championship opportunity.
They wanted a challenge worthy of the belt.
“I think this is a perfect match,” Montes said.
Abby Montes Is Prepared For Her Defining Moment
Abby Montes has travelled halfway across the world, accepted the pressure of a historic main event and dedicated an entire camp to becoming Power Slap’s first women’s 145-pound champion.
Standing in her way is one of the strongest and most experienced competitors in the division.
Montes expects Sheena Bathory to bring power, toughness and the support of the European crowd. She also believes those circumstances will allow her to produce the most important performance of her career.
Whether the fight lasts one round or all five, Montes is prepared to enter a war.
A victory in Serbia would give her more than a championship belt. It would secure her place in Power Slap history.