24-year-old Ellis Badr Barboza has his first shot at ONE Championship gold on Friday, February 4. At ONE Fight Night 28 on Prime Video, Barboza challenges Prajanchai PK Saenchai for the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship. It is a dream match for the Brit who has looked up to the Thai star since entering the sport.
“I’ve been following Prajanchai. Funny enough, I used to watch Prajanchai when I was in Dubai on the treadmill. I’d put his fights on and I would study and say, ‘Okay, one day I want to fight in ONE Championship and this is my division.’ I’d been watching Prajanchai for years when I first started, as well. He’s a legend of the sport. You can’t take anything away from what he’s done. So now it’s a big honor to step in the ring with a name like Prajanchai,” Ellis Badr Barboza told ONE.
Two-sport king Prajanchai puts his ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title on the line against English bruiser Ellis Badr Barboza on February 7 at ONE Fight Night 28 on Prime Video 👑 Can "El Jefe" dethrone the Thai superstar?#ONEFightNight28 | Feb 7 at 8PM ET 🎟️ Tickets 👉… pic.twitter.com/6KG0BRcsIX
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) January 4, 2025
Ellis Badr Barboza Set to Prove That Youth Conquers Over Veteran Fighter
The 30-year-old Prajanchai remains at the apex of the sport as a two-sport World Champion. However, Ellis Badr Barboza is banking on his youthful vigor to make up for the discrepancy in experience. “El Jefe” believes the reigning strawweight king is resting on his laurels and now is his opportunity to strike.
“I think the weakness of Prajanchai is that I am more young. I’m more hungry. I want this more. I’m more daring than him. He’s done everything already, so I don’t know how much he wants this. He’s already built his name. He already has the title. I don’t know how hungry he is. I don’t know how hard he’s training. I don’t know how much he wants this. So I think the weakness could be in his own mindset,” the strawweight contender said.
Barboza is hoping the title tilt also marks his first finish on the global stage. The British striker is aiming to end the match before the final bell. However, he is preparing to go all five rounds and intends to keep a high pace to stay in front of the scorecards.
“This fight, I’m only going for a knockout. Of course, I would do whatever I can to make sure I’m ahead on the scorecards. But I’m not here just to give it to the judges. I’m here to finish him and take the belt straight back to the UK,” the Brit remarked.
Ellis Badr Barboza Hungry For a Championship
Ellis Badr Barboza’s shot at the gold came quickly, but it was a welcome sight for the 24-year-old. “El Jefe” arrived in ONE with the singular goal to become a World Champion. With everything to gain and nothing to lose, Barboza is the most motivated he has ever been.
“I was so happy to get this title shot because this has been on my mind for a very long time since I signed to ONE Championship. I have nothing else on the mind other than the gold. I’m not here just to fight and make up the numbers. I want the gold around my waist,” Barboza commented.
As the date nears, Ellis Badr Barboza is reflecting on his ascent to being a top contender. Growing up in the UK, he never saw himself standing in Lumpinee Stadium going after a championship. On February 7, that is exactly what will happen and he is hoping to join other British luminaries in bringing gold back home.
“To become a World Champion from the UK is crazy. Like, if you’d have told me five years ago when I was just an angry boy in England, I’m going to fight for this belt, I would have been like, ‘What? No way.’ It’s the pinnacle and to beat the Thais at their own sport, you know, from the UK, it’s a crazy feeling,” Ellis Badr Barboza said.
ONE Fight Night 28 airs live on Friday, February 7, on Prime Video. The action begins at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. The event is free to all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.