One of the year’s biggest attractions is the upcoming ONE 168 event in Denver on U.S. primetime on Friday, September 6. The fans are super excited to witness some of the elite fighters in the promotion, and among these warriors is 17-year-old Johan Ghazali. The teenager will take on Josue Cruz in a flyweight Muay Thai matchup. Ghazali recently sat down for a chat with the South China Morning Post to share his mindset before the fight.

The 17-year-old made it clear that he is hoping to win the fight via knockout and said, “I hope so, you know that’s the plan.” However, he was quick to point out that he was not taking his opponent lightly and said, “Yeah, you know but the truth is he’s 28, he’s a decade older than me. I am sure he has a lot more experience than me. So to underestimate him would be wrong, you know.” But why is he not taking Cruz lightly? Let us find out. 

Johan Ghazali respects the threat Josue Cruz possesses 

Josue “Tuzo” Cruz is a story of inspiration for many youngsters in Mexico. He was the first person from Mexico to sign a contract with ONE Championship. Despite coming from one of the world’s hotbeds for boxing, Cruz carved a name for himself in the world of Muay Thai. He dominated the local circuit with an impressive record of 17-0 before finally making a move to ONE Championship in 2022. However, he is yet to show his true potential in the world’s largest martial arts organization. 

During his debut clash at ONE 157, Cruz took on Walter Goncalves but suffered a knockout in the first round itself. He later failed to win his next fight as Sean Climaco scored a knockout over him at ONE Fight Night 22. ‘Tuzo’ will be desperate to register his first ONE Championship victory to live up to the hype surrounding him. His opponent, Ghazali, is aware of the threat he possesses and made it clear in the same interview that he has worked hard for the fight.

The 17-year-old said, “I don’t underestimate anyone. I have been training hard. I came out here to Denver early to acclimatise to just get ready. Because I know that in ONE Championship in these four ounce gloves, anything can happen. So I’m ready 100%.” Let us take a look at his recent form before his fight at ONE 168. 

Johan Ghazali will look to get back to winning ways at ONE 168: Denver 

17-year-old Johan Ghazali has impressed fans with his captivating style and unwavering confidence during his fights. Since making his debut in the ONE Championship in 2023, the teenage sensation amassed five consecutive wins. However, his winning run finally came to an end during his last outing at ONE 167. Ghazali took on Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat and failed to get past the veteran. The fight went the full distance, but Ghazali came up short on the judges’ scorecard and his aggression was not enough to defeat the Vietnamese star. 

‘Jojo’ made it clear that he has learned from his past mistakes and is determined to get back to winning ways. His opponent, though, is also a man on a mission. Cruz is not only eyeing his first victory, but a shot at the division’s top prize as well. “Being in ONE Championship, being the first Mexican to be signed in ONE Championship, I think is one of the greatest victories in my life. Now, I want to be the first Mexican to win inside of ONE Championship,” said the 28-year-old during one of his interviews with ONE Championship. 

Who do you think will win the fight at ONE 168: Denver? Let us know about it in the comments below.