"I'm 100 percent healthy" - Jonathan Di Bella says it's all systems go in bid to regain gold at ONE Friday Fights 68
Just two months after he lost his gold due to missing hydration, Jonathan Di Bella is back in the ONE Championship fold to reclaim his ONE strawweight kickboxing world title on June 28.
The Canadian-Italian was slated to face Prajanchai PK Saenchai in an all-champion showdown as part of a loaded ONE Friday Fights 58 card in April. Unfortunately, the Team Di Bella Kickboxing star fell ill just days from his second world title defense.
Now, with proper rest and a full training camp, the Montreal native is all geared up for his chance to right his mistakes, upset the hometown favorite, and walk away with 26 pounds of gold.
Their contest serves as the main event of ONE Friday Fights 68 inside the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, which is available via pay-per-view.
Speaking to Bolasport, Jonathan Di Bella said:
"Yeah, the preparation has been going well. Just like the last time, you know, everything was going well last time. I just got sick. So I couldn't compete. When I really wanted to compete, that's why I came to Thailand, but I was more sick and everything, and I couldn't let my body go through it. So yeah, now I'm better. I'm 100 percent healthy."
Watch the full interview here:
Jonathan Di Bella doesn't remember a thing from ONE Friday Fights 58 misfortune
Though he managed to pull himself together to attend the official weigh-ins at ONE Friday Fights 58 and other media duties, Jonathan Di Bella was far from being at full fitness.
Shortly after he failed hydration and withdrew from his contest earlier this year, things only took a turn for the worse.
Jonathan Di Bella was hospitalized the day before the event, and when he woke up the next day, he could barely recount any moment that led to his admission.
"So we went to the hospital, I threw up, they put me back on the bed, they put IVs in me, and I woke up in my hotel room the next day. I don't remember what happened. I was still not feeling well," Di Bella shared in a separate interview with the promotion.