Jonathan Di Bella watched Wang Junguang outduel ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Prajanchai Pongsuphan PK at The Inner Circle 35 earlier this month, and the reigning ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion came away with one clear conclusion. Wang deserves a title shot, and Di Bella has a very specific prediction for how their meeting will end.
Wang’s return could not have gone any better. Making his promotional comeback after six years away, the Yao Fight Team product defeated a returning Prajanchai -- who was stepping back into the ring after a year-long absence due to surgery and recovery -- to claim the split decision.
The performance left a strong impression on the man holding the strawweight kickboxing belt.
“He looked good. It looks like he was hungry, and he wants to get a title shot. I had it 3-0 for Wang. He’s looking very strong. He looked aggressive,” Di Bella said.
The 30-year-old Italian-Canadian five-time ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion carries a 16-1 career record and a 6-1 ONE record into whatever comes next, having successfully defended his crown against Chinese star Zhang Peimian in July.
He is under no illusions about what Wang’s victory over the divisional Muay Thai king means for the title picture, and he is more than willing to give the Chinese fighter what he is chasing.
“[I know] he wants the belt, so no problem. It’s his dream. He had a chance against Sam-A, but he didn’t get it. Now, he wants a second chance. He beat Prajanchai, and I guess he deserves it,” he explained.
The matchup carries an intriguing storyline that stretches back years.
Di Bella and Wang were once booked to fight before circumstances intervened, and the Canadian-Italian champion has not forgotten how he expects that unfinished business to end.
“We were supposed to fight once, like a long time ago, during COVID-19. I do think somebody’s going to get knocked out in this fight. And it’s not going to be me,” he said.
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