‘No Turning Back’ – Exza Eyes Life-Changing ONE Debut Against Xavier Gonzalez At The Inner Circle 36
After years of grinding in the shadows of Thailand’s regional circuit, Exza Wankhongohm finally finds himself bathed in the global spotlight.
The Thai newcomer makes his highly anticipated ONE Championship debut against Spanish slugger Xavier Gonzalez in a flyweight Muay Thai showdown at The Inner Circle 36 on Friday, October 30. The action streams live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s fabled Lumpinee Stadium, exclusively for members at live.onefc.com.
Nothing about this massive opportunity arrived overnight. It serves as the ultimate reward for a grueling marathon on the local scene, where Exza meticulously compiled a battle-tested 60-15 record.
The 23-year-old fully understands the massive leap in competition, and he is certainly not blind to the dangers that accompany it. Even so, he has absolutely no intention of shrinking on the biggest stage of his career, insisting that sheer excitement far outweighs any lingering nerves.
He told onefc.com:
“It’s my first time competing in three-round fights with small gloves, but I actually really like the 4-ounce gloves. I’m fully prepared to adapt my skills and showcase my best performance on the global stage.”
His resolve will be fiercely tested right out of the gate. Rather than a gentle introduction, Exza draws a ruthless forward-mover with a proven track record of destruction on the demanding weekly series.
Gonzalez owns seven ONE victories, with four arriving by clean knockout. Before a narrow split-decision loss to Thway Lin Htet in his most recent outing, the Spaniard flattened Payaksurin JP Power and Chatanan Apichat Muaythai in back-to-back appearances.
Still, the debutant remains completely unfazed by that relentless aggression. While he possesses the technical skills to meet that ferocity head-on, he refuses to let pride or emotion dictate his game plan.
He stated:
“I know Xavier quite well. He’s a tough fighter, but I don’t think he has the tools to knock me out. Compared to me, Xavier is relatively slow. My style relies heavily on aggressive low kicks.
“Since Xavier relies heavily on his boxing, I need to stay focused on my kicking game and rely on my footwork to create angles. I will still use my hands, but I’ll throw strikes from lateral angles rather than exchanging directly in front of him.”
That ironclad discipline will be crucial. Gonzalez is at his absolute most dangerous in a chaotic firefight, and a single reckless exchange could play right into the heavy hitter’s hands.
Recognizing that obvious trap, Exza plans to leave the Spaniard swinging at mere shadows.
The Wankhongohm MBK athlete added:
“The plan isn’t to stand face-to-face and trade punches in the pocket. Instead, I’ll be utilizing my footwork — circling out to the sides, avoiding his direct power punches, and countering effectively.”
Exza Has Too Much Riding On This To Let It Slip
For Exza Wankhongohm, every grueling bout, every lingering bruise, and every silent sacrifice has led directly to this moment.
Muay Thai first found its way to him through his family, but over time, it blossomed into a craft he cherished as his own. Having scratched and clawed his way to ONE, he holds this golden chance close to his heart, fiercely refusing to squander it.
Furthermore, he knows a brilliant statement debut could perfectly set the tone for his entire promotional career and wedge open the door to a lucrative six-figure contract. For him, that financial prize carries the ultimate promise of freedom.
The flyweight hopeful shared:
“I started fighting when I was 12 years old, following in the footsteps of my older brother who was a Muay Thai fighter. Eventually, my brother stopped fighting, but I kept pushing forward.
“Now, there’s no turning back for me. I’ve built a reputation in the Muay Thai scene, and more importantly, fighting allows me to provide for my entire family.”
Despite the heavy stakes, he plans to savor every passing second of his clash with Gonzalez. Above all else, though, he wants to secure his first victory in style.
As he prepares to unleash his elusive talents on the world, this is his golden opportunity to showcase everything he has spent a lifetime building. More importantly, it is his chance to give something profound back to the people who helped him reach the pinnacle.
He concluded:
“My main goal is to secure that performance bonus. My parents still have some remaining debts, and winning that bonus would allow me to clear everything off for them completely.
“I know earning a bonus is a tough challenge, but that is my ultimate objective. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity in ONE Championship. It’s something I never imagined would happen.”
