“See the Young Guns Go at It” – Johan Ghazali Names Fellow Teen Phenom as a Possible Next Opponent

In the recently concluded ONE 168: Denver event, 17-year-old Johan Ghazali delivered another dominating performance. He took on Josue Cruz in a highly exciting flyweight Muay Thai clash. Ghazali won the fight via knockout in the first round and returned to winning after losing his last fight against Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat.

‘Jojo’ not only entertained the fans with his impressive performance but also earned a coveted US$50,000 performance bonus. While the 17-year-old is satisfied with his performance, he is in no mood to take things for granted. During a recent interview with ONE Championship, he shared details about his next opponent. Let us take a look as to whom he wants to face next.

Johan Ghazali wants to test himself against Freddie Haggerty next ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Since making his debut in the ONE Championship, Johan Ghazali has impressed everyone with his skills. The fearless approach of the teenage sensation has already made him a crowd favorite. However, he is not just here to entertain the fans but wants to win the title as well. After a dominating performance at ONE 168: Denver ‘Jojo’ now wants to test himself against Freddie Haggerty. Haggerty is currently 2-0 in ONE Championship, winning both of his fights via knockout.

Polls of the dayWho do you think will come out on top if Johan Ghazali faces off against another teen phenom?

However, his records have had no effect on Ghazali, and he is willing to take him on next if given the opportunity. During a conversation with ONE Championship, the 17-year-old said, “I want Freddie. Freddie Haggerty has shown some interest in this fight. He’s been throwing some jabs on social media. A lot of people want to see that fight. You know, I’ve seen the comments. I’ve seen social media. People want to see the young guns go at it. So, yeah, I think I have some interest in that fight as well. Next fight sometime down the line, I’m just putting names out there, I’m ready to fight anyone. And yeah, because at the end of the day, that’s what I do. I’m a fighter, and I fight.” Both fighters are still young in their careers and will surely cross paths with each other sooner or later. However, the pair have been going against each other lately, and it seems a new rivalry might just be brewing between them.

Article continues below this ad

The idea of two teenagers fighting against each other will always be exciting to watch for the fans. But it seems Ghazali is not only focused on younger Haggerty only. During his post-fight interview, ‘Jojo’ showed his willingness to take on Denis Puric. Let us take a look at what he had to say about fighting Puric.

Johan Ghazali calls out Denis Puric after his emphatic ONE 168: Denver victory What’s your perspective on:

Are these young guns the future of MMA, or just a flash in the pan?

Have an interesting take?With the kind of impressive run Johan Ghazali has had in the ONE Championship, facing Puric will definitely be one of his biggest challenges to date. After all, “The Bosnian Menace” is currently the second-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender and is one of the most experienced fighters in the circuit. Puric, in his last fight against Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE 167, impressed one and all with his performance. Although he lost the fight, the clash went the full distance, which earned him the respect of everyone.

Article continues below this ad

Ghazali, during his post-fight interview, made it clear that he wants to take on tough fights in his career, and Puric is right up there. He said, “I’m looking for a challenge, a real fight. I’m not saying my last fight before this wasn’t a challenge. But to be honest, nobody wants to see someone tip-tap toe to a decision win. This is just not entertaining. That’s exactly why I want to call out Denis Puric. I want to fight Denis Puric,”. The difference in experience between the pair is massive, and there’s no doubt he will prove to be a menace for Ghazali if they ever take on each other. Currently, there is no announcement about his next fight, but the fans will be hoping to see him in action soon.

With Ghazali showing interest in fighting Haggerty and Puric, it will be interesting to see whether he will get to face any of those fighters. Who do you think should ‘Jojo’ face next in his career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.