Other 16-year-olds may be busy studying for their exams or ‘lepaking’ with their pals, but Muay Thai exponent Muhammad Johan Ghazali, has been busy becoming the youngest athlete to earn a six-figure contract with ONE Championship, the world’s largest martial arts organisation.
ONE Championship is Asia’s largest sports media property and broadcasts globally to over 190 countries. Its matches draw tens of thousands of fans and has some 350 fighters. As reported by Malay Mail, Johan, better known as Jojo, landed the contract after delivering a liver shot that silenced his opponent, Temirlan Bekmurzaev from Russia. They sparred during the ONE Friday Fights 36 at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on 6 October.
The young Sarawakian talent scored his fourth consecutive win in the ONE Championship. ONE Championship posted an interview with Jojo on their Instagram of him saying as he laughed disbelievingly, “This is crazy... this is crazy! I turn 17 next month — I guess I have a ONE Championship contract before I even have my driver’s license, so this is crazy!”
In another Instagram post, he said, “Alhamdulillah, thank you One Championship for this opportunity, thank you Chatri Sityodtong (Founder & CEO of One) for the 10k USD bonus and thank you to everyone who has been supporting me since day one. Please continue to support me because we're just getting started. SEE YOU AT THE TOP.”
After a fierce exchange of blows between the two, watch him deliver his final blow to Bekmurzaev’s liver here. This resulted in the referee counting the latter out just before the bell rang:
Representing, Rentap Muay Thai Club, Jojo secured a US$100,000 (approximately RM427,750) contract with ONE Championship in addition to a knockout bonus of 350,000 Baht (approximately RM46,000).
Born to a Malaysian father and an American mother, Jojo started his Muay Thai training seriously at the tender age of 9. Both of his parents are also active in the sport. The teenage sensation studies at SMK St Thomas, Kuching.
Earlier this year, he made an impressive debut in a “blink and you’ll miss it” moment when he knocked out his Thai opponent Padetsuk Fairtex after only 16 seconds. His left hook-right overhand combo managed to catch his 18-year-old opponent off guard. Last year, Jojo also won the 14-15 category (under 60kg) title at the 2022 IFMA World Youth Muay Thai Championship.
Let’s hope he doesn’t spend all his money on a new car!
Check out his profile on ONE FC here and follow him on Instagram.
Image credit: @fight_record, @johanghazali_