KUCHING: The wait is over, and the stage is set as Sarawak-born fighter Johan ‘Jojo’ Ghazali is set to face head-to-head against Colombian Johan “Panda Kick” Estupinan in a highly anticipated flyweight muaythai ONE Championship 170 showdown tomorrow (Jan 24) night at 8.30 pm.
At 5 foot 7, Jojo acknowledges Estupinan’s lightning speed but firmly believes that precision and timing will prove more effective than sheer power.
“I have noticed that Estupinan has been rocked in almost every fight, so it won’t be me getting knocked out,” said Jojo with confidence during a recent press conference.
The 18-year-old also credited his opponent for his unorthodox and fast-paced fighting style but points out a critical vulnerability in his stance. “He has power, no doubt, but one thing I had noticed was that he does not really have a chin. So if we go toe-to-toe, it won’t be me getting knocked out.”
With six wins in his last seven contests under the ONE Championship banner, Jojo is brimming with quiet confidence heading into this high-stakes encounter. His record reflected not only his resilience but also his ability to execute strategy under pressure.
On the other side of the ring, 22-year-old sensation Estupinan, ONE Championship’s first Colombian athlete, has had an impressive run in the promotion so far.
Similar to Jojo, the JCFernandez and Team CSK affiliate has been proudly representing the organisation’s rising stars.
To date, ‘Panda Kick’ Esupinan has amassed three knockouts against Kouta Omori, Sean Climaco, and Zakaria El Jamari to go with his sole unanimous decision triumph over Zafer Sayik to move 4-0 in ONE.
While Estupinan has presented himself as a force to be reckoned with, Jojo’s focus remained sharp with his game plan even sharper.
He is not just gunning to fight — he is aiming to outsmart and outlast his opponent, convinced that his timing and precision will ultimately be the deciding factor when the bell rings.
The match will be broadcasted live in PRIMEtime Asia on Astro Sports Plus.
