‘It Lit Me Up’ – Johan Ghazali Draws Motivation From Rambolek’s World Title Win Ahead Of ONE SAMURAI 1
Watching a stablemate capture a ONE World Title changes a fighter. For Johan “Jojo” Ghazali, it ignited a fire he plans to bring straight to Tokyo, Japan.
The 19-year-old Malaysian-American aims to move a step closer to the ultimate prize in the world’s largest martial arts organization when he battles Shimon Yoshinari in a flyweight Muay Thai showdown at ONE SAMURAI 1, broadcasting live from Ariake Arena on Wednesday, April 29.
The atmosphere inside Superbon Training Camp remains electric ahead of his return. That collective drive stems from Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon, his teammate and the newly crowned ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion.
Rambolek delivered a career-defining performance to earn a unanimous decision win and 26 pounds of gold over defending king Nabil Anane in the main event of The Inner Circle on March 20.
For Ghazali, witnessing the victory felt like watching family succeed. He said:
“It was such a crazy achievement. I’m genuinely, really happy for him. I’ve seen how hard he trains, how much pain he’s been through to get that belt.
“When he came back, it just lit me up. It gave me so much motivation, and it shows that the belt isn’t that far away. It’s just a few fights away, and hopefully I move a step closer to that gold, starting with a win against Shimon in Japan.”
Every close friendship features an origin story. For “Jojo” and Rambolek, two fighters crossed paths at exactly the right moment.
Rambolek arrived at ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon’s gym after a mixed run of results. He decided to work with the best just before launching a three-fight knockout streak in early 2025. He joined the camp just months after Ghazali settled in, and the two quickly became inseparable on the mats.
Ghazali explained:
“I think he had a bunch of problems before that, according to him. He kept pulling out of fights because he was sick, and he got knocked out by Asa Ten Pow. Then I think he fought a couple of times, even knocked a guy out, and then came to the gym.
“Since then, I’d say we train together every day. We train even on Sundays and through New Year’s. A lot of the time, it was just him and me. We’re definitely very close now. We both know each other’s sacrifices, and it hasn’t been easy.”
The brotherhood extends beyond the gym walls. Between sessions, the pair discuss football, food, and life in Thai. They share meals, late nights, and at least one unexpected trip to the cinema.
One evening, Ghazali headed to a nearby mall for a Zootopia 2 date night. He walked through the theater doors and found Rambolek sitting inside with his partner.
“Jojo” recalled:
“That day was so funny. There’s only one mall nearby, and I was there with my girlfriend. I walked into the theater, and Rambolek was there with his partner. It was a very weird coincidence, but I guess some things are meant to be.
“We enjoyed the night. We talked about the movie and had a short hangout session before heading back. But, really, I wouldn’t have expected to bump into him there.”
The Best Seat In The House
Johan Ghazali has watched athletes win World Titles before. But there is a difference between watching someone you admire and watching someone you train with walk out of Lumpinee Stadium with a belt.
Fifteen months of shared sessions, sacrifices, and hard days have a way of making someone else’s victory feel like your own. For the 19-year-old, watching Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon claim the bantamweight crown was exactly that.
Per “Jojo,” this one hit different:
“Rambolek went in there with a solid game plan. He knew everything that was coming, and he was ready for it. It shows that the experience we have in this camp is unmatched.
“Seeing Superbon unify his belt in Tokyo was special. But, you know, he’s used to it. We’re used to that. But when Rambolek won it, it was just crazy. It was something special, personally. I don’t know how else to describe it.”
None of it surprised Ghazali, though.
He had seen what was coming long before Rambolek ever stepped in against Nabil Anane, and what he had been watching on those mats told him exactly how it would unfold.
The Rentap Muaythai Gym and Superbon Training Camp star reflected:
“He was so good. He was fast, and his timing was perfect. I feel like he’s improved a lot in that sense – he knows exactly when to chill, when to lay on the ropes, and when to burst out and go on the attack. You saw that against [Abdulla] Dayakaev, too. He’s very patient and very smart.”
To the outside world, Rambolek’s victory registered as an upset. To Ghazali, it was inevitable. He had watched his training partner prepare for this moment with a level of focus and precision that eliminated any doubt.
From someone with that kind of inside knowledge, the verdict on the World Title-winning performance carries significant weight.
The Malaysian-American’s only critique was a light one delivered with a smile:
“I hope he keeps it up, but I hope he talks more sh*t too. He needs to do that, and I’ve already told him that. He knows. Rambolek is a very, very humble guy. But when it comes to the mic skills, I think he needs to improve on that.”
