"I might call him out" - Johan Ghazali names the hard-hitting veteran he wants to fight next after ONE 168 

Teenage knockout artist Johan Ghazali has never been shy of proving he could hold his own against more seasoned veterans of the game. On Sept. 6, in the promotion's return to U.S. soil at ONE 168: Denver, 'Jojo' is eager to show he's ready for the big boys by beating Josue Cruz at the Ball Arena.

If he gets his hand raised against the fiery Mexican, Ghazali says he'll use the opportunity to challenge 'The Bosnian Menace' Denis Puric.

The Malaysian-American standout said in a South China Morning Post interview:

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"It would be [a fun fight]. I might call him out after this fight."

Admittedly, Johan Ghazali bit off a little more than he could chew the last time he fought a battle-tested adversary.

The 17-year-old was outclassed by Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat after three rounds at ONE 167 last June, which effectively ended his unbeaten 5-0 run in the promotion.

There are definitely levels to this game, and facing the second-ranked Puric could be a tall order for the young upstart.

Then again, Ghazali will certainly be due for a big-name opponent if he can score another bonus-winning KO in front of a raucous American audience at ONE 168: Denver.

Watch Johan Ghazali's full interview:

Johan Ghazali says the goal is to impress at ONE 168

Johan Ghazali is not the type to be delighted by simply winning, nor is he a fan of moral victories.

At the end of the day, the Rentap Muaythai Gym affiliate believes style points are important to ensure fans are entertained at all times.

That's why 'Jojo' will once again hunt for the killing blow in a bid to increase his status at Josue Cruz's expense. He told ONE:

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"I want to do the work with my hands, pressure him, break his defense, and have fun. But who knows, there could be a head kick or something that fans have never seen before."

Tickets for ONE 168: Denver are available via Ticketmaster.

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