Josue “Tuzo” Cruz knows that his back is against the wall, and he wants to impress in his upcoming ONE Championship outing. Cruz understood the importance of evolving his skill set to succeed on the biggest stage after his debut defeat against Walter Goncalves.

The Mexican star is set to face teenage striking sensation Johan “Jojo” Ghazali at ONE 168: Denver this Friday, September 6, with their battle emanating live from U.S. primetime from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

Josue Cruz seeks redemption in a high-stakes bout against Ghazali

After an incredible 17-0 start to his career, “Tuzo” has struggled to find form in the world’s largest martial arts organization since his move in 2022. He’ll be facing a fighter with a lot of hype behind him this weekend, but Cruz is determined to put on a show.

“Johan is a strong opponent. He continues to grow after each fight despite his age. I see him as a big opportunity because I know that if I beat him, bigger things will follow,” he said.

He further added, “It’s a great opportunity for me and that’s why I’m training hard. I know it’ll be a war,” Ghazali has risen fast in ONE Championship. He has won five of his six bouts, with four coming via finish. Though he went down to a decision loss against Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat in his last matchup at ONE 167 in June, there is still a significant spotlight on the 17-year-old striker.

Cruz’s intense preparation fuels his drive for victory

With that in mind, Cruz knows a convincing win will help him prove that he belongs among the planet’s most elite striking roster in ONE. So, he’s throwing everything into preparation in order to be at his very best in Denver. Apart from training in familiar surroundings, the Mexican star has undergone rigorous preparations at the Mahmoudi Gym HQ in France along with some of the biggest stars of ONE.

“My training has been more demanding. I’ve been focused on what his strengths are so that I can adequately prepare for them. I’ve been pushing my limits during training, and I feel motivated to face him,” Cruz said. “Thinking about facing him gets me fired up in the morning and makes me give it my all.”

The Mexican star will be fighting closer to his homeland than ever before in ONE this weekend. That could potentially give him the extra boost he needs to find victory. However, with Ghazali motivated to get back on track after his previous result, fans can bet the Malaysian-American will be more dangerous than ever when they step into action.