‘He’s Not Going To Retreat And Neither Will I’ – Josue Cruz Ready For War With Johan Ghazali
Josue “Tuzo” Cruz is prepared to fight fire with fire when he meets Johan “Jojo” Ghazali at ONE 168: Denver.
The pair will face off in a flyweight Muay Thai clash live in U.S. primetime on Friday, September 6, and Cruz sees this as a chance to make a statement against one of the division’s hottest properties.
The 28-year-old Mexican is yet to find a win in his first two outings in the world’s largest martial arts organization, but he feels like he can start afresh if he defeats 17-year-old Ghazali at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
With so much at stake on one of the year’s biggest cards, “Tuzo” is putting everything into his training in a bid to leave the Circle with his first notch in the win column.
He said:
“Johan is a strong opponent. He continues to grow after each fight despite his age. I see him as a big opportunity because I know that if I beat him, bigger things will follow. It’s a great opportunity for me and that’s why I’m training hard. I know it’ll be a war.
“My training has been more demanding. I’ve been focused on what his strengths are so that I can adequately prepare for them. I’ve been pushing my limits during training, and I feel motivated to face him.
“Thinking about facing him gets me fired up in the morning and makes me give it my all.”
Ghazali has won five of his six appearances in ONE to date, with four of those victories coming by knockout, so Cruz knows getting his hand raised won’t be easy.
However, he’s willing to do what most others haven’t by standing his ground and using his experience to wait for the openings against the 17-year-old phenom.
That has its potential dangers, but “Tuzo” knows it will make for an exciting spectacle for the North American crowd on September 6:
“Johan is always going forward and never retreats. He’s always looking for the knockout. Due to his style, I know it’s going to be an intense fight. He’s not going to retreat and neither will I. The fight is going to be filled with a lot of adrenaline and we’re going to trade shots.
“He’s a complete fighter and doesn’t have many weaknesses, but I did notice that he lost his focus in his last fight. He seemed stressed that things weren’t going his way.
“I’m going to take advantage of that and make sure to capitalize on the moments when he gets desperate.”
Cruz Vows To Show ‘New And Improved’ Version At ONE 168
Josue Cruz hasn’t had the easiest ride in ONE so far. He is currently riding a two-fight skid in the world’s largest martial arts organization, but he wants to prove he belongs on the biggest stage.
Rather than looking for the easiest route back to the winner’s circle, “Tuzo” sees getting another tough opponent as an opportunity to show how he has grown through adversity:
“My mentality is stronger now. Sometimes you think that losses will set you back, but they’ve matured me as a fighter. They’ve made me realize how I need to fight and what I need to change. I’ve made sure to make some changes in both my mental and physical training.
“Facing Johan is motivating for me, and I’m going to give it my all. Fans haven’t seen the best version of me, and they are going to see a completely different ‘Tuzo’ Cruz.”
The Mahmoudi Gym Mexico athlete wouldn’t be able to keep this positive outlook without a strong support network around him.
It’s easy for doubt to creep in during downward swings, but Cruz still feels confident because he has others who believe in his vision for Muay Thai success on the global stage.
He explained:
“I have to give credit to my family, my wife, and my team because they’re the ones that have helped me stay focused and continue working towards my goals with high expectations. They’re the ones pushing me to do better for my upcoming fight and that’s what keeps me going every day.”
