Canadian kickboxer Jonathan Di Bella looks to take a step closer to regaining his One Championship's strawweight world title Sunday when he takes Thailand's Sam-A Gaiyanghadao at One 172 in Saitama, Japan.
The two are fighting for the One Championship interim crown. That's because Thailand's Prajanchai PK Saenchai holds both the One kickboxing and Muay Thai titles, making for a busy dance card.
The Di Bella-Sam-A winner will face Prajanchai to unify the kickboxing title.
"I want to get my belt back. This is the start to get my belt back, this fight here," said Di Bella, who lost to Prajanchai in June.
"Not looking past Sam-A because without beating him, there's no Prajanchai rematch," he added. "So I've got to beat Sam-A. And then yes, I'm looking forward to the rematch with Prajanchai."
The 28-year-old from Montreal, who turned pro at 19, is 3-1-0 in One Championship action and won the vacant One strawweight title in his debut in the promotion, earning a five-round decision over China's (The Fighting Rooster) Zhang Peimian at One 163 in October 2022 in Kuala Lumpur.
He defended the championship belt in October 2023, winning a decision over Australia's (Mini T) Danial Williams in Bangkok. But Di Bella had to give up the title after falling ill on the day of the weigh-ins before his scheduled second title defence in April 2024 against Prajanchai.
Two months later he lost a decision to Prajanchai in the rescheduled bout for the vacant title in Bangkok.
Di Bella bounced back with a decision win over Portugal's Rui Botelho in December in Bangkok.
"Last year was a roller-coaster year … It was kind of a weird situation with taking away my (championship) belt, getting sick and losing (in the bout) for the vacant belt again," said Di Bella. "But I came back with a win. And now we're trying to flip the script and come back stronger and make a comeback story."
He had fallen ill two weeks before flying to Thailand to face Prajanchai the first time, but decided to go ahead with the fight after feeling better. However, he started to feel sick and dehydrated during the final weight cut.
Di Bella made weight but failed the hydration test, which involves testing a urine sample using a refractometer to ensure that the athlete is sufficiently hydrated after the weight cut.
He ended up spending the night in hospital.
The 41-year-old Sam-A, a southpaw like Di Bella, is a veteran of more than 400 bouts. Di Bella calls it a "dream matchup."
"Sam-A's a legend," said Di Bella. "I always wanted to fight him. He's one of the fighters I used to watch as a young kid."
Sam-A took up Muay Thai at nine and moved to Bangkok at 15 to pursue his studies.
He won the inaugural One strawweight kickboxing world title in December 2019, adding the inaugural One strawweight Muay Thai title in February 2020.
He retired in February 2022, but returned to action in March 2023.
Sunday's card at Saitama Super Arena is stacked with title bouts.
The main event pits former Muay Thai flyweight champion Rodtang (The Iron Man) Jitmuangnon of Thailand against three-division K-1 champion Takeru (Natural Born Krusher) Segawa of Japan. In the co-main event, featherweight Muay Thai champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai meets Japan's Masaaki Noiri for the interim featherweight kickboxing title.
Elsewhere Thailand's (The Kicking Machine) Superlek Kiatmoo9 defends his bantamweight Muay Thai title against interim champion Nabil Anane, a six-foot-four Algerian-Thai fighter.
Former champion Adriano (Mikinho) Moraes of Brazil takes on Japan's Yuya (Little Piranha) Wakamatsu for the vacant flyweight MMA title. Thailand's (The Queen) Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom puts her atomweight kickboxing title on the line against Japan's Kana (Krusher Queen) Morimoto.
Fighters in One's kickboxing division wear eight-ounce boxing gloves (10-ounce gloves for featherweight or heavier) and can score a knockout via punch, kick or knee. Muay Thai bouts see the fighters wear four-ounce MMA gloves and can knock out opponents via punch, kick, knee, elbow or legal throw.
Di Bella started kickboxing when he was just two years old. His father Angelo, now his coach, was a kickboxing champion in his own right and has his own gym in Montreal.
Outside the ring, Di Bella and girlfriend Emely have a coffee business. Di Bella Espresso is billed as "where passion meets perfection in every sip."
"At first we were just having fun doing it," he said. "Now we're taking it more seriously and expanding it globally."
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 21, 2025
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
