Di Bella seeks One Championship title shot in Japan

Canadian kickboxer Jonathan Di Bella is preparing for an important fight on Sunday. He will face Thailand's Sam-A Gaiyanghadao at One 172 in Saitama, Japan. This matchup is for the interim One Championship strawweight title. The current champion, Prajanchai PK Saenchai, holds both the kickboxing and Muay Thai titles, making the competition fierce. Di Bella is eager to get back his title after losing it in June. He stated, "I want to get my belt back. This fight is the start to get my belt back." He knows that he must first defeat Sam-A to have a chance to rematch Prajanchai. At 28 years old, Di Bella is from Montreal and turned professional at 19. He has a record of 3 wins and 1 loss in One Championship. He won his first title in October 2022 and successfully defended it in October 2023. However, he had to forfeit the title in April 2024 after falling ill during weigh-ins. This past year has been challenging for Di Bella. He reflected on his struggles, saying it was a "roller-coaster year." He went through sickness and a title loss but bounced back with a recent victory over Rui Botelho. His opponent, Sam-A, 41 years old, has had a long and successful career with over 400 fights. Di Bella admires him, calling it a "dream matchup." Sam-A first began training in Muay Thai at a young age and has won multiple titles in his career. The fight card on Sunday is packed with exciting bouts. Notably, the main event features Rodtang Jitmuangnon against Takeru Segawa, and Prince Tawanchai faces Masaaki Noiri for another interim title. Outside of the ring, Di Bella runs a coffee business with his girlfriend, Emely. Their brand, Di Bella Espresso, promises high-quality coffee and is aiming to expand globally.