Jonathan Di Bella has been honored as ONE Championship's 2025 Kickboxer of the Year, capping a remarkable redemption arc that transformed his first career defeat into the motivation for capturing interim and undisputed championship gold.
Delivering the standout kickboxing storyline of the year, the Italian-Canadian striker toppled a legendary veteran and his arch-rival to reign supreme in the strawweight division.
Di Bella's 2025 campaign was defined by the burning desire to avenge his 2024 loss to Thai superstar Prajanchai PK Saenchai, the only defeat on his professional record.
However, before earning that rematch, he first needed to prove himself worthy.
ONE 172 in March provided that opportunity when Di Bella challenged Muay Thai legend Sam-A Gaiyanghadao for the ONE Interim Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship.
The 42-year-old Sam-A brought unparalleled experience. Di Bella refused to be intimidated by the living legend's credentials. Over five rounds, he demonstrated superior technique and conditioning, earning a unanimous decision that crowned him interim champion and positioned him for the rematch he desperately craved.
October brought Di Bella on the brink of greatness. The unification bout against Prajanchai for the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship represented everything the Italian-Canadian had worked toward since suffering his lone career setback.
Di Bella delivered the performance of his life. For five complete rounds, he showcased the technical brilliance and intelligence that makes him exceptional, comprehensively outpointing Prajanchai to claim unanimous decision victory. The triumph made him undisputed champion while erasing the memory of his 2024 defeat.
What makes Di Bella's year even more impressive is the manner of his victories. Both Sam-A and Prajanchai are renowned for their technical mastery and championship pedigree, yet Di Bella systematically outclassed both, proving his loss in 2024 was merely a temporary setback rather than a career-defining moment.
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