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At ONE 168: Denver, 17-year-old Muay Thai sensation Johan "Jojo" Ghazali made a statement in his U.S. debut, securing a first-round knockout victory over Mexico’s Josue “Tuzo” Cruz. Fighting in front of a packed house at Ball Arena, Ghazali showcased his elite skills by dismantling Cruz with a powerful left hook, marking his fifth stoppage win in ONE Championship.
Now, with a 6-1 record, Ghazali’s victory was highly anticipated as he continued to rise in the Muay Thai scene. The young Malaysian-American expressed his pride in representing Muay Thai on American soil, especially on a card headlined by Superlek and Jonathan Haggerty, two of the biggest names in the sport. Reflecting on his experience, Ghazali said:
“It feels great to be one of the people who bring Muay Thai to the U.S. I hope that people here in the West…see how entertaining Muay Thai really is, and yeah, I feel honored.”
Despite his dominant performance, Ghazali admitted he wasn’t at his best due to a hand injury that prevented him from sparring during training camp. Nevertheless, he followed his game plan of relentless pressure, which led to Cruz’s defeat in just three minutes.
“Honestly, I felt a bit slow today… but I knew that Josue Cruz had nothing for me, so I just stuck to the game plan that I had, which was pressure him until he breaks, and that’s what he did.”
After his first career loss in June, Ghazali emphasized how the setback fueled his growth and sharpened his determination to improve. Now, with his latest win, Ghazali has set his sights on facing higher-ranked opponents, particularly No.2-ranked Denis “The Bosnian Menace” Puric, as well as exciting strikers like Freddie Haggerty or Takeru Segawa.
Looking ahead, Ghazali is eager to continue his ascent and showcase his skills globally, whether in the U.S., Thailand, or his native Malaysia.
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