“Jojo” Johan Gazali, a Malaysian-American Fighter age,17 will duel with Josue Cruz, a Mexican fighter in Muay Thai rules, flyweight division (125-135 lbs.), in the ONE 16 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, USA on 7 September 2024.
For Johan, he made his full debut in the ONE Lumpinee fight(ONE Friday Nights) at just 16 years of age, showing form that was better than his age, winning 4 fights in a row by closing the game without complete rounds as many as 3 times. His impressive performance won the hearts of Chatri Sityodthong, CEO of ONE Championship, and earned him a ONE-athlete contract worth 100,000 US dollars (over 3.7 million baht).
After securing the contract, Johan made a spectacular debut in a big fight at ONE Fight Night, taking only 36 seconds to knock out Edgar Tabares, a former world title challenger, in ONE Fight Night 17: Roman vs. Alex on December 8, 2023, extending his undefeated record to 5 fights.
However, in June, Johan fought in a major bout for the second time in ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Joe II at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, where he faced Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat, a 35-year-old fighter from Vietnam. Johan encountered the veteran skill of Nguyen Tran, leading to his first defeat in the ONE ring.
On the other hand, Josue Cruz is a talented Mexican boxer and the first athlete from his country to sign a contract with ONE in 2022. He aims to be an inspiration to boxers across Mexico on the world stage. However, Joshua’s entry into ONE has been challenging. He was knocked out by his opponents in two consecutive fights, most recently losing to American boxer “Sean Climaco” in ONE Fight Night 22: Smilla vs. Natalia on November 4.
Returning to the ring this time, both fighters are determined to regain their confidence with a victory. Johan seeks redemption after having his undefeated record halted, while Josue wants to prove that Mexican fighters are as formidable as any in the world.
Credit Photo : ONE
