"Showing me love and support" - Jonathan Di Bella thankful for fans back home in Italy

Jonathan Di Bella feels thankful for all the love and support he received when he visited Italy a few months ago. The former ONE strawweight kickboxing world champion was presently surprised to be a recognizable face in his hometown, especially when most people associate Italian kickboxing with the legendary Giorgio Petrosyan.

Speaking to Combat Sports Today, Jonathan Di Bella expressed a sense of pride and accomplishment when he detailed being one of the few leading names left for martial arts in Italy.

"Yeah, I feel the same way right now that like Giorgio Petrosyan is not like around as much. For sure, like I feel like I'm one of the only names and the only world champions that are still active. When I was visiting, when I went back to see my family in Italy, like a lot of people in town are recognizing me and showing me love and support."

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"Just go out there and perform" - Jonathan Di Bella says he's not concentrating on a Prajanchai rematch, just Rui Botelho

Jonathan Di Bella is putting all his energy into defeating Rui Botelho at ONE Fight Night 26.

It seems only yesterday that Di Bella first entered the professional ranks in ONE Championship. Carrying over a perfect 10-0 kickboxing record in 2022, Di Bella took the division by storm with his unique fighting style and fast hands.

After losing his belt on the scales due to an illness, he was later defeated by Prajanchai PK Saenchai in a re-booked world title showdown this past June.

Di Bella is therefore desperate to reclaim his crown with another resounding victory over Portuguese hard-hitter Rui Botelho, and so, the only way to do that is to put all of his energy into this training camp.

He told ONE:

"Just go out there and perform, focus on Rui, and then whatever is next, is next."

ONE Fight Night 26 will air live from the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand in US Primetime on Dec. 6.