Malaysian-American phenom Johan “Jojo” Ghazali is making a comeback after facing a loss last month at ONE 167. He is set to face Mexico’s Josue Cruz in a flyweight Muay Thai bout at ONE 168: Denver, scheduled for September 6. This marks ONE Championship’s second event on American soil.

“Jojo” debuted last year in ONE Championship, fighting almost the entire year. He fought five fights and won all of them, securing four finishes. In the process, he earned a six-figure contract, which opened his way to compete on ONE’s U.S. prime-time shows.

With just a few weeks left before his fight, Muay Thai prodigy Johan Ghazali’s video training with his mom was posted on ONE Championship’s Instagram page. His mom showcased her impressive kicking power, captioned “Mom will put you in place.” Previously on TikTok, the mother-son duo can be seen having pad sessions many times before.

This clip also caught the attention of Johan Ghazali’s fans, who were stunned and delighted to see his mother unleash such powerful kicks. Some fans jokingly appealed to ONE Championship to sign her up for a title shot, suggesting that even Jojo might not be able to handle her leg strikes easily.

Mom’s kicking power delights Johan Ghazali’s fans

Johan Ghazali’s family was into Muay Thai. Both his parents loved Muay Thai and even competed in the sport, but they never pushed their children into it. In the early stages, “Jojo’s” parents prioritized work and family. Muay Thai only came back into focus after they moved their family to Sarawak, as showcased in a recent video.

Fans were stunned to see Johan’s mother unleash a powerful kick in the viral clip. One fan commented, “mom squaring up. she means business!” Another fan jokingly addressed the stereotype of Asian moms being strict, Saying, “Remember, just because you’re half Asian doesn’t mean your mom can’t be Asian mom.”

Adding to the humor, another fan claimed the mother’s slipper is more dangerous, commenting, “Her special weapon is not her feet, but what she is wearing on her feet! Jangan sampai dia tanggal selipar, Jojo. Berdesing telinga kalau kena.” (Translate: Don’t let her lose her slippers, Jojo. Your ears will be ringing if you get hit.)

Another fan chimed in, highlighting the universal strength of mothers: “Mom is always mum no matter how strong you are.” One enthusiastic fan even took things a step further, expressing their desire to see the fight between Johan Ghazali’s mother and the reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion, Allycia Hellen Rodrigues. Their comment read, “Alright I’ve seen enough, Jojo’s mom vs @allycia_phuketfightclub for the belt.”

Now, the question remains: can “Jojo’s” mother help him recapture his winning ways? We’ll find out on September 6th when Johan Ghazali faces Jouse Cruz inside the ring. Stay tuned for more updates!