Josh Hill Talks Standout 2022, ONE Championship Goals

With the likes of Liam “Hitman” Harrison, Jonathan “The General” Haggerty, and “Lethal” Liam Nolan already asserted in ONE Championship, the influx of British Muay Thai stars has already made a pronounced difference to the promotion’s roster.

At ONE Friday Fights 1, on 20th January, the latest addition will arrive in the form of lightweight striker Josh Hill, who meets Keivan Soleimani at the illustrious Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Home of Martial Arts has made a commitment to showcasing the best Muay Thai in the world, and a landmark 2022 for Hill caught the attention of Asia’s biggest combat sports promotion. 

The 23-year-old amassed six wins in a row last year, which included picking up his first professional Muay Thai World Title, and he be looking to continue the hot run of form into his promotional debut.

“Last year was definitely my most successful year to date, and I believe that was down to not putting as much pressure on myself. Usually, I think about what things could lead to and where it could go from there,” Hill said.

“It was just all about fighting the best names I could. I wasn’t thinking about where things would lead. I just wanted to prove myself.

Hill earned some major achievements while making himself known on the world striking stage, including a win over Nauzet Trujillo for the ISKA Muay Thai World Championship last October. 

Capturing his first major gold has only made him hungrier, though, and he intends to use that hunger to push him to great things in ONE.

“My coach always said winning a World Title was just the start of your career, that’s where all the opportunities open up. For me, winning a World Title was just a stepping stone for getting into ONE and proving I belong with the best of the best World Champions,” Hill said.

“ONE Championship has always been the end goal. That’s where all the superstars are. That’s where all the elite fighters are, and they’re the people I want to prove I belong in the ring with.”

As the old saying goes, though – it’s easier to reach the top than to stay at the top. But that’s exactly what the young Brit plans to do. 

His first assignment in Soleimani will provide a substantial test. His pressure-heavy fighting style makes the Iranian notably dangerous. Hill is well aware of his foe’s power, but he wants to use him to showcase his skill set.

“He’s a very strong fighter. He likes to come forward, and he’s aggressive with his hands. He’s fought bare-knuckle, he’s fought with roped hands, and he’s fought in MMA gloves. So, he’s going to be used to the rule set, and I know he’s going to be aggressive,” he said.

“He made a statement saying one of us is going to be unconscious by the end of the fight, so I look forward to the challenge.” 

While a debut on Muay Thai’s biggest stage is enough to consider on its own, competing in ONE’s inaugural Friday Fights event at the historic Lumpinee Stadium provides a trifecta of factors for Hill to acknowledge.

Despite the pressure, the Majestic Gym product is ready to cement his place in the lightweight striking ranks.

“I want to go out there and make a statement,” Hill asserted.

“I want to prove that I belong in there with the best in the world, and that this fight is just the beginning of a very long run in ONE Championship. 

“After this, I’d like to challenge myself against the best in the division, whether it’s Eddie Abasolo, Sinsamut [Klinmee], or Liam Nolan.”