Jonathan Di Bella certain ONE Championship will spur the growth of kickboxing across North America
Jonathan Di Bella believes ONE Championship can single-handedly bring kickboxing to the forefront of combat sports in the United States and Canada. After delivering a critically acclaimed night of fights in Denver, Colorado last year, ONE Championship will head back to The Mile High City on Friday, Sept. 6 for ONE 168.
Emanating from Ball Arena, the event is already set to feature one of the most anticipated Muay Thai fights of all time as reigning two-sport king Jonathan Haggerty meets Superlek Kiatmoo9.
Di Bella, who returns to the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium on June 28 for a title tilt with Thai superstar Prajanchai, recently spoke with Calf Kick Sports about the promotion's highly anticipated return to the States and the positive impact ONE's expansion into North America could have on his sport of choice - kickboxing.
"I think the more ONE Championship comes to North America more, the more it is, the more it's gonna get bigger cause, you know, in North America, fighting is big here," Di Bella said. "Especially in New York, Vegas, LA...fighting is big."
Jonathan Di Bella hopes a win over Prajanchai will get him booked for ONE 168
Jonathan Di Bella hopes to land himself a spot on the ONE 168 card but to do so, he'll have to go through one of the most experienced fighters in all of ONE Championship.
Originally, Jonathan Di Bella was scheduled to put the ONE strawweight kickboxing world championship on the line against Prajanchai at ONE Friday Fights 58. However, the Canadian-Italian failed hydration. As a result, the bout was scrapped and Di Bella was stripped of his 26 pounds of gold.
Ready to reclaim the crown he technically never lost, Di Bella meets Prajanchai—currently the ONE strawweight Muay Thai world champion—at ONE Friday Fights 68 on June 28.
Who leaves the Mecca of Muay Thai with the strawweight kickboxing crown and potentially punches their ticket to ONE 168?
ONE Championship will present ONE Friday Fights 68 live from Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, June 28. And be sure to follow this link for tickets for ONE 168: Denver on Sept. 6 at Ball Arena.