Malaysia's Jordan Boy all fired up for ONE Championship Tokyo bout

Come ONE: A NEW ERA on Sunday, 31 March, Kuala Lumpur’s Mohammed “Jordan Boy” Mahmoud will know whether he has done enough in his quest to attain that marquee victory for Malaysia in Tokyo, Japan.

The 22-year-old Muay Thai athlete is set to face Cyprus’ Panicos Yusuf in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai bantamweight contest in what will be ONE Championship’s inaugural spectacle in “The Land Of The Rising Sun.”

This is a landmark event for the promotion, but Mohammed has set his sights on creating a milestone of his own, too.

“For this fight, I’ve been training at this gym in Lopburi, Thailand,” shares Mohammed, who normally trains at Sampuri Muay Thai Gym in Ampang.

“The gym is located in a remote area, about 200 kilometers away from the airport. It’s a fantastic gym, and the trainers are from the Thai national team.”

Recognizing the enormity of his bout against a two-time Muay Thai World Champion, the Kedah-born martial artist confesses he has been putting himself through double the rigors of training.

“I’ve been put through a tough training regime at this Thai gym. There were times when I was just counting the days to go home,” he says with a chuckle.

“When I arrived in Thailand, my weight was 70 kilograms. By the time they were done with me, after two weeks or so, I was down to 65 kilograms. I hadn’t even worn a sauna suit or reduced my food intake.”

Despite the exhaustion, Mohammed continues to persevere.

“I just kept telling my mind and body that I need to keep pushing on, that all this pain will be worth it,” he adds. “My body ached, and I was drained, but I told myself to ignore the cries.”

Suffice to say, “Jordan Boy” has been diligently studying his opponent ahead of their clash.

The Malaysian youngster does not want to give too much away in regards to his strategy, but he is confident he will secure a jaw-dropping finish.

“He’s a technical fighter, just like me. I’m sure both of us will be changing our techniques in the cage,” Mohammed explains.

“What I know is that he does get rattled when pressured, so I’ll push him when the time is right. I’m looking for a knockout this time.”