“He wants to win” - Thai legend Nong-O marvels at Johan Ghazali’s insane work ethic ahead of ONE 170

Despite his youth, Johan Ghazali is steadily earning the respect and admiration of some of the biggest names in Muay Thai, including legends like Nong-O Hama.

The Malaysian-American prospect suits up for action at ONE 170, where he faces fellow rising star Johan Estupinan in a highly anticipated flyweight Muay Thai showdown before a sold-out crowd at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, this Friday, Jan. 24.

For this training camp, Ghazali chose to sharpen his skills under the guidance of Trainer Gae, who also coaches Nong-O and featherweight kickboxing king Superbon.

An exclusive behind-the-scenes footage showed the 18-year-old phenom working on pads with Trainer Gae, and Nong-O was quick to praise Ghazali’s dedication.

The former ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion said:

“I want muscles like Johan now. Johan came here and improved a lot. He has Trainer Gae, Superbon, and Petchtanong to teach him. He trains very hard. Super hard! He’s very focused for this fight. He wants to win.”

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Johan Ghazali targets to impress once more in Bangkok

This recognition from Nong-O Hama is significant, as Johan Ghazali’s rapid rise continues to capture the attention of the combat sports world.

Since joining the world's largest martial arts organization, 'Jojo' has been nothing short of exceptional. He first made waves with four consecutive victories on the ONE Friday Fights series, earning him a spot on the main roster and a $100,000 contract.

Ghazali’s debut on the big stage in Dec. 2023 was nothing less than spectacular, as he finished Edgar Tabares in a mere 36 seconds. He followed it up with another jaw-dropping performance in Sept. 2024, knocking out Josue Cruz in the first round of a 142-pound catchweight matchup.

Riding on a huge wave of momentum, Ghazali now has his sights set on cracking the top five rankings in the flyweight Muay Thai division.