Johan Ghazali Reflects On Life-Changing Year, Prepares For Main Roster Debut At ONE Fight Night 17

Johan Ghazali is only 17 years old, but he has the Muay Thai world in the palm of his hand, and he could propel himself into the flyweight division’s elite when he debuts on ONE Championship’s biggest stage at ONE Fight Night 17: Kryklia vs. Roberts this weekend.

“Jojo” meets WBC Muay Thai International Champion Edgar Tabares at the Saturday, 9th December, event inside Bangkok, Thailand’s famed Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, and he’ll enter his match with a fair amount of clout.

Ghazali scored three knockouts in four outings in ONE’s Friday Fights series this year, with the fastest coming after just 16 seconds. His impressive resume earned him a US$100,000 contract and a spot on ONE’s main roster, and he reflected on his time in the promotion so far in a recent interview.

“I mean, ONE Championship has been life-changing, man. In just four fights, I have obviously already made more money than 30 fights outside of ONE Championship,” Ghazali stated.

“So, of course, it changed my life financially, but it also changed my life in other aspects, like popularity wise has changed and a lot of things too. It has been nothing but great.” 

Due to his durability, aggression, and knockout power, many look at “Jojo” and see the second coming of ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon. 

Ghazali appreciates the comments, as Rodtang stands as a huge source of inspiration for the young talent, but that’s as far as he will allow it to go. 

Respectfully, he doesn’t want to be in the shadow of “The Iron Man.” Instead, the Rentap Muaythai gym standout plans to create his legacy en route to a shot at ONE gold.

“It’s really cool to be associated with a legend like that. Even in Malaysia, my nickname is already Rodtang Melayu (Malay Rodtang), that’s what the community in Thailand and Malaysia know me as,” Johan Ghazali said.

“But honestly, I don’t want to be remembered as like the next Rodtang. I want to be remembered as Johan Ghazali.”

Amazingly, the 17-year-old prodigy earned his contract with ONE before he was even old enough to drive. Despite that, he has no plans to take his foot off the gas anytime soon – and his road now leads to Tabares. 

The Mexican standout is still searching for his first victory in the world’s largest martial arts organization following losses to Rodtang and Elias Mahmoudi, so he’ll be hungry to stop “Jojo’s” hype train. 

The pair have been on very different paths in ONE so far, but Ghazali hasn’t allowed Tabares’ setbacks to affect his view of his highly experienced adversary.

“Honestly, I don’t see much. I think he has a low kick, and that’s about it, I guess. I don’t see anything that will trouble me really, but that doesn’t mean I’m underestimating him or anything,” he explained.

“The level of fighters here in ONE Championship is really high, so I’m prepared to go out there and do my best.”