‘He Doesn’t Even Have A Solid Chin’ – Johan Ghazali Details Path To Knockout Against Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat
Malaysian-American Muay Thai prodigy Johan “Jojo” Ghazali will soon return to the world’s largest martial arts organization for his toughest test yet.
On June 7 in U.S. primetime at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II on Prime Video, the 17-year-old knockout artist will square off with Vietnamese veteran “No. 1” Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat in an intriguing flyweight Muay Thai scrap at Bangkok’s Impact Arena.
Undefeated across five electrifying fights in ONE, Ghazali has rightfully earned his reputation as perhaps the most talented young Muay Thai fighter on the planet.
His foe at ONE 167, though, is a skilled and experienced all-around striker. To that end, “Jojo” says he won’t take Duy Nhat lightly, well aware of the 35-year-old’s devastating head kick.
Ghazali spoke to onefc.com about what his opponent will bring to the table:
“I will say that he’s really versatile. He has everything. He has hands, he has elbows, he has knees, he has kicks. But the one thing that stands out is his head kicks.
“You know, I’ve seen him throw a few head kicks, and they can get dangerous. But I’ve prepared for it. I’m ready for it. So we should have an answer for whatever he throws. We’re ready.”
While some fans might think Ghazali’s inexperience will be a disadvantage against a seasoned competitor like Duy Nhat, the teen phenom disagrees.
“Jojo” explained how his youth will lead him not just to victory – but another knockout:
“I feel like the advantage I have in this fight is my youth. I’m younger, I recover faster, I’m stronger, so I feel like this is something I can guarantee on my end.
“But because he could be tough, I think I’m going to be in for a tough start. But I do know he will get tired in the later rounds, which then make it easier for me to knock him out.”
With absolute thunder in his hands and a fearless, aggressive style, Ghazali boasts four unforgettable knockouts across his five victories in the organization.
And even though he recognizes the Vietnamese star is a dangerous KO artist in his own right, Ghazali is confident he’ll leave Bangkok with another stoppage win on his resume:
“I respect him as a fighter and as an opponent, but I feel like he’s old, you know, and I think he doesn’t even have a solid chin. Hopefully, he’s out when I hit him just once.”
Ghazali: ‘We’re Here To Put On A Show’
Johan Ghazali expects a hard day of work against Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat. A long, grueling fight would be a change of pace from most of the teen’s appearances in ONE.
Last December at ONE Fight Night 17, “Jojo” needed just 36 seconds and a handful of punishing strikes to finish former ONE World Title challenger Edgar Tabares. And in his promotional debut last February, he scored an incredible 16-second knockout of Thai striker Padetsuk Fairtex.
He’s looking forward to a harder battle at ONE 167, but he would naturally welcome another quick finish if the opportunity presents itself:
“I expect to have a fight, a proper one. I expect a tough fight. But like any other fight, I’m going for the knockout, hopefully in the later rounds, maybe round two or three. But I expect a tough fight.
“However, you know, if the opportunity comes in the first 16 seconds, I won’t think twice about taking it. I’ll take it without a doubt. Nothing tastes sweeter than a quick KO.”
Ghazali is excited for the chance to pick up another victory in U.S. primetime and continue his meteoric rise up the flyweight Muay Thai ranks. At the same time, he’s motivated to deliver fireworks and leave fans dying to see him fight again.
With that in mind, he plans to bring his ultra-aggressive game to Bangkok at ONE 167:
“I produce my style according to what the crowd wants because, at the end of the day, Muay Thai is also business. We’re here to make money. We’re here to put on a show. It’s not about putting in boring fights.”
