Malaysia’s rising Muay Thai star Johan Ghazali suffered a hard-fought defeat to Japan’s Shimon Yoshinari via judges’ decision at ONE Samurai 1, held at Ariake Arena.
The bout delivered a high-intensity three-round contest, showcasing resilience, power, and heart from both fighters in front of a partisan home crowd.
The opening round saw both fighters adopt a cautious approach, carefully measuring distance and timing without overcommitting.
Momentum shifted dramatically in the second round as the 19-year-old Ghazali turned up the aggression—unleashing a flurry of punches that sent Yoshinari to the canvas.
However, the Japanese fighter responded in kind, landing a powerful counter that dropped “Jojo,” setting the tone for a fiercely contested exchange. Ghazali showed grit to recover and push through to the end of the round.
Yoshinari took control in the third round, pressing forward with relentless attacks.
A series of strikes to the face left Ghazali bloodied, but the Malaysian refused to back down—continuing to trade blows and display remarkable determination until the final bell.
After three bruising rounds, the judges awarded victory to Yoshinari, handing Ghazali a valiant defeat in enemy territory.
Credit Photo : ONE
