Johan Ghazali Eyes Bout With Denis Puric Following Knockout Win At ONE 168

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Teenage Muay Thai phenom Johan Ghazali responded to the doubters with a vicious return to the win column at ONE 168: Denver. There, "Jojo" stormed through Josue Cruz inside one round on Saturday, 7 September, inside Colorado's Ball Arena.

In doing so, he proved his setback this past June turned him into a better, badder version of himself. After all, there's more to learn in loss than victory, and the youngster credited his ONE 167 defeat to veteran striker Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat for his vast improvements.

"I learned more in that loss than I did in the past six fights before that. It was a great experience. I'm happy I went through it," Ghazali said. "I'm happy it went the way it did because it just gives more chances to improve, and I think that's what I showed today."

Following a relentless victory in ONE Championship's return to U.S. soil, Ghazali intends to keep the momentum rolling into bigger fights. The lofty Malaysian-American now wants to test his skills against another vastly experienced fighter.

Post-fight at ONE 168, the 17-year-old called out Denis Puric. "The Bosnian Menace" has gone to war with many in ONE, having faced the likes of ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon as well as knocking out Ghazali's old foe Duy Nhat last December.

Puric currently sits as the #2-ranked contender in the flyweight Muay Thai division, but Ghazali is clearly out to test his mettle and prove he's not just the flavor of the month.

"I would like to fight Denis Puric because he's a ranked fighter. He's been around for a long time. He's experienced. He's strong. He's a very entertaining fighter, and I would love to fight him," Ghazali said.

Ghazali's knockout pedigree has seen him labeled as the next Rodtang, and he appears to be willing to go through some of the World Champion's former opponents to show there's more to him than just that moniker.

At only 17 years old, Ghazali has plenty of time to develop his skills. But time will tell whether the promotion grants him his ambitious wish of a showdown with "The Bosnian Menace."