Jonathan Di Bella wins ONE Championship Kickboxer of the Year award for 2025

Italian-Canadian Jonathan Di Bella enjoyed an eventful campaign in the circuit last year, and the world’s largest martial arts organization named him the 2025 ONE Championship Kickboxer of the Year.

The strawweight kickboxing world champion won two of his stints on the world stage last year on his way to securing his place atop the throne.

2024 saw him suffer the first loss of his career at the hands of Prajanchai PK Saenchai at ONE Friday Fights 68. However, he brought positive momentum to the year after besting Portuguese boxer Rui Botelho by unanimous decision in December of that year.

In his first fight of 2025, he faced legendary Team Di Bella Kickboxing fighter Sam-A Gaiyanghadao at ONE 172 in Saitama, Japan.

Many expected Sam-A, the organization’s first two-sport world champion, to defeat the Canadian-Italian inside the Saitama Super Arena.

However, Jonathan De Bella delivered a masterclass to upset the 42-year-old Thai on his way to capturing the interim strawweight kickboxing world title.

His victory gave him a shot at a world title unification fight and a rematch against Braganchay. Their five-fight war was scheduled for ONE Fight Night 36 in October of last year.

There, the Montreal native pointed out the king of the division and reminded everyone that his first loss to Braganchay, a fight he believes he did enough to win, was just a bump on his path to greatness.

A couple of great clinics. Two victories. And now he is the undisputed king of the division. 2025 could not have been better for Jonathan Di Bella, and he deservedly received the organization’s Kickboxing Player of the Year award during an impressive campaign on the world stage.

Jonathan De Bella is looking to move into Muay Thai in 2026

With 26 pounds of gold around his waist, Jonathan De Bella has an even bigger target on his back.

Of course, the likes of Sam-A, Zhang Peimian and Prajanchai will be keen to test him and see how well he fares as the king of the division. But the Canadian-Italian has hinted that he would like to switch majors temporarily in search of two-sport glory in ONE.

“I’m interested in Muay Thai. I really want to do it. I want to do it right away, actually. If they’re okay with it,” 29-year-old Jonathan De Bella told the promotion.