In photos: Joseph Lasiri's inspiring underdog story in ONE Championship

ONE strawweight Muay Thai world champion Joseph Lasiri personified what it’s like chasing a dream and how never giving up will ultimately lead to success.

The inspiring Italian’s journey will have another chapter added this month when he takes on Rodtang Jitmuangnon for the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title. The pair are set to collide at ONE on Prime Video 4 on November 18 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Lasiri, who’s aiming to claim a second world title in Singapore, had the roughest start of any fighter in ONE Championship. However, he never let that poor form get in the way of his desire to become a world champion.

More than four years on since his debut in ONE Championship, Lasiri continues to defy the odds. He plans to create even more history in such a way that only he knows how.

Lasiri certainly made his mark in the sport from overcoming a difficult start to securing a world title, and we here at Sportskeeda ONE Championship have looked back at his underdog fairy tale through images.

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Early adversity in ONE Championship

Sam-A Gaiyanghadao lands a kick against Joseph Lasiri. [Photo ONE Championship]

Joseph Lasiri, just like any other fighter, felt that signing the dotted line in his ONE Championship contract signified his arrival in the big leagues. What he didn’t expect, though, was that he was treading in an ocean full of monsters.

Singtongnoi Por Telakun tags Joseph Lasiri. [Photo ONE Championship]

The Monzesi was 26 years old when he arrived at ONE Championship in January 2018 at ONE: Global Superheroes. The man tasked with welcoming him to the promotion was the legendary Sam-A Gaiyanghadao.

Things did not turn out well for Lasiri as he got stomped and ultimately knocked out in the second round.

His bad luck continued well into his third fight. He started his ONE Championship tenure going 0-4 with losses to Sam-A, Singtongnoi Por Telakun, Josh Tonna, and Jonathan Haggerty.

Josh Tonna (left) celebrates his win over Joseph Lasiri (right). [Photo ONE Championship]

Lasiri knew that he was hanging on by a thread and a few more mistakes would lead to him getting handed his pink slip.

He found a brief moment of reprieve when he scored a split decision win over eventual ONE bantamweight kickboxing world champion Hiroki Akimoto at ONE: A New Era in March 2019.

However, that win didn’t result in anything substantial for Lasiri.

Jonathan Haggerty celebrates his win over Joseph Lasiri. [Photo ONE Championship]

Just six months after his win over Akimoto, Lasiri was once again on the short end when he absorbed a unanimous decision loss to Thailand’s Mongkolpetch Petchyindee.

Mongkolpetch Petchyindee plants a front kick on Joseph Lasiri's head. [Photo ONE Championship]

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Joseph Lasiri beats the odds

Joseph Lasiri cracks Rocky Ogden with an elbow. [Photo ONE Championship]

Now staring at a dreadful 1-5 record, Lasiri knew he had to do something to change his fortunes.

Lasiri has always been competitive, and his nature made him such a headstrong fighter that he’d stop at nothing just to prove a point.

Now on an impending war path, Lasiri headed to ONE: Inside the Matrix IV determined to put on a performance that would see him start a new life in ONE Championship.

His first task was to take on Australia’s Rocky Ogden in Singapore in November 2020.

Joseph Lasiri celebrates his win over Rocky Ogden. [Photo ONE Championship]

Hellbent on securing his position among ONE Championship’s elite, Lasiri moved forward and went into the attack at every chance he got. It was a close back-and-forth match, but it was Lasiri’s night as he captured a critical split decision win over Ogden.

Lasiri’s next match, though, would be the most pivotal of his career.

Joseph Lasiri hits Asahi Shinagawa with a knee. [Photo ONE Championship]

The Italian striker had never found a finish in ONE Championship, but that all changed when he faced Asahi Shinagawa at ONE: Winter Warriors II in December 2021.

Though the fight started a bit on the slower end, it didn’t prevent Lasiri from going berserk in the final minute of the first round.

Joseph Lasiri (left) consoles Asahi Shinagawa (right). [Photo ONE Championship]

Lasiri managed to back Shinagawa near the cage wall. Then, out of nowhere, he tagged the Japanese striker with a booming right straight that he immediately followed up with a short left knee to the body.

That quick two-strike combo effectively turned the lights out of Shinagawa, marking Lasiri’s first knockout win in ONE Championship.

Now in possession of two straight wins, what awaited Lasiri in his next fight practically defined his inspirational rise to the top.

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Winning the world title against a Thai legend

Joseph Lasiri gets the world title he's always dreamt of. [Photo ONE Championship]

Joseph Lasiri’s incredible win over Shinagawa not only earned him the No.1 contender spot in the strawweight Muay Thai division, but it also pushed him to the biggest fight of his career.

‘The Hurricane’ was on the verge of completing his Cinderella run when he secured the opportunity to fight Thai legend Prajanchai PK.Saenchai for the ONE strawweight Muay Thai world title at ONE 157 this past May.

Lasiri, who was staring at a dismal 1-5 record three years prior, was now on the cusp of finally achieving his martial arts dream.

Realizing that such a chance would never be given a second time, Lasiri marched on and showed Prajanchai that there was a new legend who was about to write his own history.

Prajanchai is considered one of the greatest fighters of his generation, having collected a record of 338-51-3 before his fight against Lasiri. His debut in ONE Championship was also historic as he beat Sam-A for the ONE strawweight Muay Thai world title at ONE: Battleground in July 2021.

Joseph Lasiri connects with a left jab against Prajanchai PK.Saenchai. [Photo ONE Championship]

Despite his opponent’s status, Lasiri dictated the bout and played target practice with Prajanchai’s face in the second round. The Italian star bloodied Prajanchai with a sharp left uppercut and proceeded to open things up throughout the period.

The win was Lasiri’s to take in the third round as he battered Prajanchai for the entire three minutes. Lasiri did so much damage in the third that the Thai legend had no choice but to quit on the stool.

“Today, I only showed the people who didn’t know, but for me, I show myself every time, that I’m this man. The first time I came to ONE Championship, I lost. And then again, I came back, and I lost again. For me, I knew before that I could become a [World] Champion,” said Joseph Lasiri in an interview with ONE Championship.