“So proud of him” - Johan Ghazali’s mother approves his first-round KO of Josue Cruz in Denver
Johan Ghazali's mom, Jenna Johnson, was proud of her son's performance at ONE 168: Denver.
Last Saturday, September 6, was an interesting test for Ghazali. The 17-year-old returned to action for the first time since losing against Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat and looked to get back on track against Josue Cruz.
There were slightly added stakes for Ghazali, as ONE 168 took place in North America, which could greatly benefit his fanbase. 'Jojo' capitalized on the moment by knocking out Cruz with a vicious left hook in round one.
Following Ghazali's impressive win, media member Alex Wendling interviewed him and his mother, Jenna Johnson. She had this to say about her son's win:
"Really proud of it. So proud of him."
Johan Ghazali's first-round knockout win led to a $50,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. In fact, the 17-year-old was one of six fighters to receive the extra money at ONE 168: Denver alongside Johan Estupinan, Adrian Lee, John Lineker, Seksan, and Superlek.
ONE 168: Denver was a special night for the world's largest martial arts organization. For those who missed the action, North American and Canadian viewers with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription can rewatch the entire event.
Watch Jenna Johnson's entire interview with Alex Wendling below:
Johan Ghazali's rise in ONE Championship
Johan Ghazali's first ONE Championship fight took place in February 2023. The Malaysian-American prospect quickly made a name for himself with four wins on the ONE Friday Fight Series, including three by knockout.
Ghazali's first appearance on the main roster was against Edgar Tabares at ONE Fight Night 17. 'Jojo' showcased his skills on the bigger platform by securing a 36-second knockout win against his Mexican counterpart.
In June, Ghazali suffered his first promotional loss against Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat. As previously mentioned, 'Jojo' bounced back with a highlight-reel knockout against Josue Cruz, electrifying the North American crowd in the process.
At 17 years old, the future is bright for Ghazali in the ONE flyweight Muay Thai division. Following his latest win, he called out Freddie Haggerty and Denis Puric for his next fight, both being entertaining matchups.
Watch Ghazali's knockout against Cruz below: