‘A Bit Of That Superbon And Nong-O Style’ – Johan Ghazali Aims To Display Refined Skills At ONE Friday Fights 141
Teenage knockout machine Johan “Jojo” Ghazali returns to action this week with one clear objective: prove he’s better than ever.
The 19-year-old American-Malaysian welcomes Myanmar’s Ye Yint Naung to the global stage in flyweight Muay Thai action at ONE Friday Fights 141, live in Asia primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 6.
Ghazali enters this matchup riding momentum from a first-round TKO victory over Zakaria El Jamari, his sixth highlight-reel finish under the ONE Championship spotlight, which pushed his record to 26-9.
The preparation for this clash has been purposeful and focused. Under the guidance of ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon and former bantamweight Muay Thai king Nong-O, the young gun has been refining his explosive tools while adding layers of technical sophistication.
He told onefc.com:
“I haven’t really been focusing on any specific aspect. Instead, I’ve just been trying to get better at what I was doing and what I’m already good at.
“There are so many things that I would love to showcase in this next fight, but we will have to see how the fight goes. I would love to showcase my new weapons – new kicks, knees, elbows, and a bit of that Superbon and Nong-O style.”
That desire to display his expanded arsenal reflects evolution forged through adversity and validated through victory against El Jamari at ONE Fight Night 35.
Ghazali’s 2025 campaign began with back-to-back decision losses to Johan “Panda Kick” Estupinan and Diego Paez that raised questions about whether the teenage sensation could handle elite-level competition.
While observers assumed the losses had rattled his self-belief, he made it clear that it had only strengthened his resolve and sharpened his skills:
“That win was important for me. But to tell you the truth, even after the losses, my confidence wasn’t really affected. Everyone’s said that ‘Jojo’ is back. But, honestly, I’ve been the same person, just better. Every single fight, win or lose, I improve and evolve. Fans can expect the same thing when I return later this week.”
That unshakable confidence will serve the Rentap Muaythai Gym and Superbon Training Camp affiliate well as he prepares to welcome Ye Yint Naung to ONE.
For his 21-year-old Myanmar opponent representing Team Mehdi Zatout, stepping into Lumpinee under the bright lights represents the opportunity of a lifetime. For Ghazali, it’s a chance to show there are levels to this game.
“Jojo” continued:
“I’m happy to welcome him to the big stage, but, at the same time, I’m here to show him that the big leagues are different. I’m hungry to be better. And I’m definitely hungrier than he is.
“Every fight, I hunt for a highlight reel. However, I want to showcase a bit more skills before I get the knockout here. I want to display what I’ve been learning from these guys, so I’m going to chill out and not rush into the pocket.”
Ghazali Seeks Dominance Now, ONE World Title Next
That measured approach represents a significant evolution from the early-career Johan Ghazali, who would sprint into exchanges looking for the immediate finish.
Now, under the tutelage of two striking masters who believe he’s destined for greatness on the global stage, the 19-year-old understands that patience and precision often lead to more spectacular knockouts than raw aggression alone.
But make no mistake – the killer instinct remains intact:
“As long as I don’t get hit with anything crazy, I think I’ll be able to control the whole fight. If I see an opportunity to knock him out, I will. I’m not predicting any round, but as soon as the opportunity presents itself, I’ll take it.”
Looking beyond Friday’s matchup, Ghazali made it clear he’s not interested in handpicking opponents or building a resume against carefully selected opposition.
The teenager wants to test himself against the best in the flyweight Muay Thai division.
When asked about future matchups, “Jojo” shared:
“There are so many good fighters now, entertaining ones. I can’t really name any of them because I’m down for anyone. But anyone who’s in my way of what I want is my next target.”
That fearless mentality reflects the mindset of a fighter who’s learned from adversity and emerged stronger.
Now, with improved technical skills complementing his natural knockout power, he believes he’s ready for anyone the world’s largest martial arts organization puts in front of him, starting with Ye Yint Naung.
But all roads lead to one destination. All the fights, all the training, all the evolution – it’s all in service of a single goal:
“I wanna be a ONE Championship World Champion. That’s it. Straightforward and simple. One dream. The biggest of them all.”
