Jonathan Di Bella has faced the world’s most dangerous strikers without flinching, but finding the courage to propose to his longtime girlfriend proved more terrifying than any championship fight he’d ever experienced.

The ONE Interim Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion recently got engaged to fiance Emely Elizabeth Rodriguez, adding profound personal motivation to his unification rematch against two-sport king Prajanchai PK Saenchai at ONE Fight Night 36 on October 3.

Their love story reads like romantic destiny. Childhood acquaintances from elementary school who reconnected years later, transforming friendship into an eight-year romance that culminated in one of the most meaningful moments of Di Bella’s life.

“I got engaged recently, so I’ve been having fun. It was a long time coming,” the 29-year-old said. “I’ve known her since elementary school. Then, we reconnected years later. But I’ve been dating her for eight years.”

The Italian-Canadian striker originally planned proposing after his December victory over Rui Botelho, but the Sam-A opportunity forced him to delay romantic plans while maintaining complete secrecy about the engagement ring he’d purchased six months earlier.

“I was planning on doing it after the Rui Botelho fight, but plans changed. I got the Sam-A fight right away,” he explained. “I didn’t want her to know anything about the engagement. I wanted to focus on my fight camp.”

After claiming interim gold against the legendary Sam-A in March, Di Bella set his proposal plan into motion. The man who never showed nerves against elite opposition suddenly felt jittery facing emotions he’d never experienced in countless battles.

His Miami beach proposal unfolded like childhood dreams — simple, beautiful, and serene. Rather than grand spectacle, he chose intimacy and meaning at a private beach location that held special significance for the couple.

“I chose the perfect location in a quiet little area, in a quiet private beach,” he recalled. “Me and her, we always go spend time on that private beach, so I was making up a little story saying that we had to go meet a friend there.”

Rodriguez’s response provided the ultimate motivation for his championship mission.

“She said, ‘Go beat Prajanchai, and then we can discuss about the wedding.'”

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