Johan Ghazali is excited to compete at ONE 168: Denver. The ONE Championship Muay Thai phenom is scheduled to battle Josue Cruz on Friday, September 6, as he looks to rebound from his first defeat. The decision loss to Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat is giving extra motivation for “Jojo.”
“There was plenty to learn from that last fight, and that defeat against Nguyen is only making me more pumped up to perform better. [It hasn’t dented my confidence] at all. It’s still there, and I’ve just got to show it in Colorado. The loss does give people that sense that I’m not there at the top of my game, but I’m ready to show them what I’m made of. Fans can expect the very same version of Johan Ghazali, the one before my loss. That version had never left. I only hunt for one thing – a knockout,” Ghazali said to ONE.
Another ONE ☝️ Malaysian-American phenom Johan Ghazali takes on Mexican slugger Josue Cruz for his first fight on U.S. soil at ONE 168: Denver! 🇺🇸#ONE168 | Sep 6 at 8PM ET
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⭐️ Stage Front VIP packages 👉 https://t.co/rTDkC48Unt pic.twitter.com/ulMz0FHAuN— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) July 6, 2024
The flyweight’s U.S. debut will be special for many reasons, but at the top of the list is that he will compete in front of his extended family. Ghazali’s Malaysian-American heritage has him filled with pride to make the walk to the Circle inside the Ball Arena. It is also another reason he wants to shine under the bright lights in Denver.
“Man, to be honest, I was lost for words [when I was asked to fight at ONE 168: Denver]. It’s a moment that I’ve wanted ever since I saw the card. Plus, my family – my grandparents, my cousins, my aunts – are all just in New Mexico. This is the chance for them to finally watch me fight live. I cannot wait to put on a show for them and for everyone else watching from around the world” the teen sensation remarked.
Ghazali’s last outing against Duy Nhat was his stiffest test to date. The teen star got to square off against a longtime veteran of the sport, and he battled him hard for three full rounds. Although he lost, he still gained confidence for how that would shape him as a martial artist.
When it comes to Cruz, “Jojo” sees nothing special. Ghazali plans to turn up the heat in the Mile High City and pressure Cruz from the opening bell. At some point during the contest, Ghazali expects it to result in a thunderous finish.
“Not trying to sound too confident or anything like that, but I believe my striking is way better than what Cruz brings to the table. I don’t think he’ll be able to handle my strikes when we fight. I think it’s going to be me putting the pressure on him, trying to score, trying to find that knockout, to be honest. That’s all I can think about now,” Ghazali detailed.
With the finish in mind, it would be easy to suggest Ghazali is looking past his opponent at ONE 168. However, that is not the case. “Jojo” plans to take his time to examine his opponent before going for the highlight-reel knockout.
“Ideally, I’d like a quick finish, but I’m not underestimating Cruz. I know he’ll be eager to fight. However, realistically, I think it’ll be hard for him. So, maybe a knockout in the second or third round. A late one would be nice, and it’ll be great to have a bit of drama. I want to do the work with my hands, pressure him, break his defense, and have fun. But who knows, there could be a head kick or something that fans have never seen before,” Ghazali said.
ONE 168: Denver airs live on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Friday, September 6. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada. Remaining tickets to attend live are available at Ticketmaster.
