Malaysian teenager Yohan Ghazali has been fighting in Thailand for several years, but he can't say he became an overnight success. In fact, his career got off to a very slow start, with five losses in his first five fights.
“I came to Thailand to gain experience. I wasn't looking to win,” said the 17-year-old. “My first four fights were at Max Muay Thai in Pattaya and my fifth fight was in Lumphini where I got beat up, but it’s all a learning curve.”
In 2023, he had a breakout year, fighting five times on ONE Championship cards and winning all of them (four by knockout).
Gazzali clearly learned from his early setbacks and feels it made him the fighter he is today.
How much better will Gazzali look as a ONE 167 fighter when he takes on Vietnam's Tran Duy Nhat Nguyen at Impact Arena next month? The match in Bangkok on June 7th will attract many viewers in Thailand as well.
This will be the second time Gazzali will compete in the Saturday morning event, which will be broadcast live on Prime Video in North America. Gazzali feels he has stepped up and he wants to show his punching power to a global audience.
“I'm excited to show the world what I'm capable of. I'm looking forward to showing people that I belong here.”
One factor that clearly worked in the teenager's favor was ONE Championship's introduction of three-round Muay Thai matches using MMA gloves.
Fighters obviously punch more with smaller gloves, but few are as effective as Gazzali.
He has used his hands to finish off four of the five opponents he has faced at ONE Championship events, admitting that equipment was a factor.
“One shot can change the whole game, so the little gloves are really helpful,” he said.
Gazzali was just three years old when Nguyen competed in his first SEA Games. His SEA Games was one of many international competitions, and his opponent has a brilliant track record representing Vietnam, winning numerous medals in Muay Thai.
There is an 18-year age difference between the two, and Gazzali has great respect for the experienced Nguyen.
“Gwen has been around for a long time and is much older than me. He's experienced, a good fighter, and fast.”
Another fighter he greatly admires and admits to being a big fan is Seksan Olu Kwanmuang.
But while he loves watching the 35-year-old Thai compete, the Malaysian doesn't necessarily want to emulate his hero's career trajectory.
“I don't think I want to fight when I'm in my mid-30s. Of course I love fighting and it's the pillar of my life, but it's dangerous, it's dangerous, so I have to think about that too. yeah.
“How long do I want to be in this game? If I accomplish everything I want to do by the time I'm 25, I'm done.”
Had Gazzali competed in another martial art, these early losses could have been fatal to his career ambitions. In fact, the losses shaped him into the man he is today and laid the foundation for the success the teenager is enjoying in ONE Championship.
For Ghazali, that's the beauty of Muay Thai, a sport in which fighters compete so often that losing is inevitable.
“Some of these boxers are saying they should lose one fight and everyone should retire. Muay Thai is different.”
