Mexican Muay Thai star Josue “Tuzo” Cruz says he’s never been better ahead of ONE 168: Denver. Cruz became the first person from Mexico to be signed by the ONE Championship and he is locked in on his opponents to showcase why is he the best. However, his last two endeavors under the promotion have not been as successful as he thought.

Regardless, he is going to meet his next opponent on September 6, live in U.S. primetime from Ball Arena, the 28-year-old will square off with teenage phenom Johan “Jojo” Ghazali in a flyweight Muay Thai tilt.

Josue Cruz’s journey to overcome back-to-back defeats

For Cruz, that fight will be his third appearance in the world’s largest martial arts organization – and his third chance to secure a victory. His last two opponents Walter Goncalves and Sean Climaco knocked the fighter out in the first round.

After an impressive 17-0 run through Mexico’s regional circuit, “Tuzo” arrived at ONE with plenty of lofty expectations surrounding him. But after suffering crushing defeats against Walter Goncalves and Sean Climaco, he’s been forced to reevaluate his mental and physical preparations.

He says that those defeats have been a blessing in disguise, giving him extra motivation as he prepares for Ghazali: “My mentality is stronger now. Sometimes you think that losses will set you back, but they’ve matured me as a fighter. They’ve made me realize how I need to fight and what I need to change. I’ve made sure to make some changes in both my mental and physical training.

Cruz’s determination fueled by an unwavering support system

As the first-ever Mexican athlete to be signed by ONE Championship, Josue Cruz is no stranger to high-pressure situations. Rather than crumble under the weight of back-to-back losses, he has stayed the course and continues to improve as a fighter. According to “Tuzo,” it’s those who are closest to him who have encouraged him to keep pushing through the difficulties:

He further added, “Facing Johan is motivating for me, and I’m going to give it my all. Fans haven’t seen the best version of me, and they are going to see a completely different ‘Tuzo’ Cruz.”

“I have to give credit to my family, my wife, and my team because they’re the ones that have helped me stay focused and continue working towards my goals with high expectations. They’re the ones pushing me to do better for my upcoming fight and that’s what keeps me going every day,” said Cruz.