Shimon Yoshinari looks to shock the world against “mentally tough” Johan Ghazali at ONE SAMURAI 1

Shimon Yoshinari has earned the biggest stage of his career, and he has every intention of making it count. The 21-year-old WBC Muay Thai World Champion faces Johan “Jojo” Ghazali in a flyweight Muay Thai clash at ONE SAMURAI 1 on Wednesday, April 29, live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

Shimon enters with a 25-1 career record and a perfect 4-0 mark inside ONE since his 2024 debut. His resume already includes victories over Dedduanglek Torfunfarm and four-time Muay Thai World Champion Yodlekpet Or Atchariya. When the call came to face one of ONE’s most recognizable young stars at the inaugural ONE SAMURAI event, he accepted without hesitation.

The EIWA Sports Gym fighter and his team have locked in a game plan built specifically around the threat Ghazali presents. He arrives mentally and physically ready to deliver.

“It was an offer from such a huge event, so honestly I was just happy. Johan is a well-known and popular fighter, so I felt like it was a real challenge worth taking on,” Shimon said.

“Both my mind and body are in perfect shape. My gym president and trainer put the strategy together, and my job is to execute it. On top of my own training, I’ve been studying my opponent, and that includes preparing specifically for Ghazali.”

Shimon Yoshinari eyes distance management as the key against Ghazali

Johan Ghazali brings a 27-9 record and an 8-3 promotional slate into this contest, with six of those ONE victories by finish. His relentless forward pressure and close-range punching have made him one of the most dangerous fighters on the roster. Shimon has studied him carefully and recognizes the parallels to opponents he has already handled — while staying clear-eyed about what makes this fight different.

Distance control is the central pillar of his game plan. If Shimon dictates the range, he believes the outcome will favour him.

“He strikes me as a mentally tough, aggressive fighter who suits the ONE style. In the way he closes the distance and pressures forward, he reminds me a bit of Yodlekpet, but his build and striking are different, so I can’t say it’s the same type of fight I’ve experienced before,” he said.

“[He favors] close-range punching exchanges, and I think he’ll use his elbows a lot, so I need to be careful there. But if I can manage the distance my way, I think it works in my favor.”