Johan Ghazali Champions Olivia Bahsous's Astonishing Rise Ahead Of Bangkok Clash

New Delhi, Sep 24: Johan Ghazali and Olivia Bahsous have been training partners since childhood, and in a few weeks it will be Bahsous's turn in the spotlight. The 16-year-old faces Malia Weaver in an atomweight Muay Thai bout at The Inner Circle 35 on Friday, 16 October, streaming from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.

Bahsous enters her third ONE Championship appearance off the back of two highlight-reel finishes, putting her on course for the promotion's US$100,000 main roster contract - the same milestone Ghazali reached after his own breakout run on the weekly series.

The bond traces back roughly five years, when Bahsous's family first travelled to Rentap, Malaysia, to train alongside Ghazali's camp for two weeks ahead of the IFMA Youth World Championship. Most of the visiting group left afterward, but the Bahsous family came back to train with them again.

"The Canadian team decided to come to Rentap and they trained with us for two weeks. After it was done, some of them left. But then, Olivia and her entire family came back to train with us again," he said.

"Olivia was so small. I was, too. So yeah, we go way back before ONE Championship, before fame and all that. They're like my day ones. We went through hell together, basically."

Since then, Bahsous has become a three-time IFMA Junior World Champion and, at 13, the youngest female athlete ever to compete at Lumpinee Stadium. Ghazali has long pointed to her dedication as the quality that stood out most, recalling that she kept showing up to train even on the days she cried, when other girls her age would have quit.

"She's extremely dedicated. She wants it. Even when we were much younger, I'd say I saw it in her. Even though she cried sometimes, she still showed up when other 11-year-old girls didn't really want it," he said.

"You can see that she's dedicated and she actually wants to be a good fighter. That's what really stood out about her. And I think the world now can see that Olivia actually wants to be a leading fighter."

Ghazali also credited her father's guidance across nutrition, strength, and conditioning for accelerating her progress, calling him one of the most complete support systems he has seen behind a young fighter, and said he has mentored Bahsous off camera too, helping her grow more comfortable speaking to media.

"She's very, very motivated. One thing I like about Olivia is that everything is in place for her. You know, she has all the best guidance. Her dad is really dedicated to it. He helps her with everything from nutrition to strength and conditioning," he said.

"I feel like she's going to make it to the top for sure. Her support system, particularly her dad, has been top-notch. So yeah, I see her going very far, like me. It would be sweet to conquer a division and see her do the same in ONE too."