“So Warrior Blood Is Definitely in Me”- Johan Ghazali Credits His Lineage for His Rising Fame

Muay Thai phenom Johan Ghazali is shooting up the ranks in ONE Championship. And judging from his lineage, it seems he was born to do what he’s doing. 

At ONE 167: Stamp vs. Zamboanga on Friday, June 7, the Malaysian-American brawler will look to add to his perfect 5-0 promotional slate when he takes on Vietnamese striker Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat in a flyweight battle inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Johan Ghazali reveals his legacy of fighters!

Speaking to ONE recently, Ghazali explained how he has fighting in his blood.

“My dad’s pretty well-known in Malaysia. He was part of the old-school Muay Thai scene in Malaysia,” he said. 

“My mom started training in America when she was 15. My mom was a housewife before we had the gym, but now, with the gym, she’s a promoter [the gym hosts the Rentap Fighting Championship]. She organizes fights now, and she’s always really into it.

“She met my dad in a Muay Thai gym, actually. My dad was in America studying at that time. I guess they both went to the same Muay Thai gym, and that’s how it happened.”

However, familiarity with combat doesn’t begin and end with the 17-year-old star’s parents, and it extends beyond the ring.

One of  Johan Ghazali’s grandfathers is Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Mohd Ghazali bin Che Mat – a high-ranking general in the Malaysian army, who is a decorated figure in the country.

“My granddad on my dad’s side is a war hero, a true veteran. You can easily search him up on Google. He’s done tremendous things for the country during his service, and I think maybe that fight in me really came down from him,” he shared. 

It’s clear the two generations that came before “Jojo” set him up for a life of fighting, but his athletic bloodline goes even further, as both of his great-grandfathers were also prolific sportsmen. 

A long list of fighters for Ghazali’s family

Johan Ghazali has extensive knowledge of his family going far back, and he believes the stories he has heard have helped further prove he is a born competitor.

“On my mom’s side, her grandfather from her dad’s side was a boxer, as well. He used to fight on the undercards of some of Jack Dempsey’s shows. His name was Erick Johnson Sr. He fought under the name Swede Johnson,” he revealed. 

“And my other great-grandfather was an American football player, you know, who was a very tough guy. There were stories about him while he was playing football. He injured his neck, and he didn’t notice until only a month after or something like that. So warrior blood is definitely in me.”

The Rentap Muaythai Gym standout will face arguably his biggest test so far when he takes on Duy Nhat at ONE 167. 

“No.1” is an accomplished national athlete for Vietnam, and he won his first two fights in ONE Championship by knockout.

With Duy Nhat trying to find his way back to form after a loss in his last outing and Johan Ghazali determined to add weight to his family’s name, fans should expect fireworks when these two collide on June 7.