Jonathan Di Bella's Courage To Propose: Story Behind A World Champion's Most Personal Victory

ONE Interim Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan Di Bella has faced the world’s most dangerous strikers without flinching, but the most daunting fight of his life was finding the courage to propose to his longtime girlfriend. 

The Italian-Canadian sensation has discovered newfound inspiration after recently getting engaged to his fiancée, Emely Elizabeth Rodriguez.

With his heart full and his focus razor-sharp, Di Bella is now preparing for his long-awaited Strawweight Kickboxing World Title unification rematch against two-sport king Prajanchai PK Saenchai at ONE Fight Night 36 on Prime Video, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, October 3.

Despite his global fame, the fiercely private 29-year-old striker has kept his relationship with Rodriguez away from the public eye.

Their love story reads like a romantic film – childhood acquaintances who reconnected in adulthood. What began as friendship blossomed into an eight-year romance that would culminate in one of the most meaningful moments of Di Bella’s life.

He said:

“I got engaged recently, so I’ve been having fun. It was a long time coming. I’ve been with her for many years. 

“I’ve known her since elementary school. Then, we reconnected years later. But I’ve been dating her for eight years. At the beginning, [it was] off and on. And then, it got more serious.”

As a world-class athlete who splits his time training in Montreal, New York, and Miami, Di Bella wanted to give Rodriguez the engagement of her dreams in one of these historic cities.

However, those romantic plans were temporarily shelved when an opportunity to reclaim his lost crown materialized. The chance to face the legendary Sam-A Gaiyanghadao for the ONE Interim Strawweight Kickboxing World Title and potentially avenge his only career blemish to Prajanchai demanded his complete focus.

The Italian-Canadian explained:

“I was planning on doing it after the Rui Botelho fight [last December], but plans changed. I got the Sam-A fight right away. So, I went straight to train in Canada, but I didn’t want her to know anything about the engagement. I wanted to focus on my fight camp with Sam-A.”

After beating Sam-A to claim the interim belt in March, Di Bella set his proposal plan into motion.

The man who never showed any nerves against elite opposition suddenly felt jittery, emotions he’d never experienced in countless battles. But fortunately, everything started falling into place.

Di Bella said:

“After the Sam-A fight, I knew I was going to have a little break and go away to Miami. I wanted to do something there. I got the ring like six months before. So, I’m like, ‘I’m ready, I have to do it now.’ And I decided to do something special. 

“Even then, I didn’t know what to do or where to do it. So, I’m like, ‘Okay, it’s going to be on a beach, for sure.’ I called a company to organize these flowers, do it like a heart, and ask, ‘Will you marry me?’ And I got a good company, thank God. I just chose the location, and they set it up, and everything went smoothly.”

Fiancée’s Support Fuels Di Bella’s Championship Mission

The engagement unfolded like a scene from their childhood dreams – simple, beautiful, and serene. 

Rather than a grand spectacle, Jonathan Di Bella chose intimacy and meaning, creating a core memory in a location that held special significance for the couple. With the ring ready and flowers arranged, he had to get his unsuspecting fiancée to the beach.

He recalled:

“I chose the perfect location in a quiet little area, in a quiet private beach, and I got a good location. 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. 

“I’m like, ‘Oh, okay, we’re going to go meet him and say hi, and then we’ll go for dinner.’ And she said, ‘Okay, okay.’ She was so surprised. She was shocked.”

Now engaged, Di Bella feels rejuvenated and energized for the biggest fight of his career.

With a chance to unify the division’s kickboxing gold against the man who handed him his first and only professional defeat, the Italian-Canadian star enters his Bangkok showdown at ONE Fight Night 36 with renewed purpose.

Perhaps most touching is his fiancée’s selfless gesture ahead of his most important bout.

Instead of rushing into wedding planning mode, Rodriguez has opted to patiently wait for her future husband to settle his unfinished business with Prajanchai on October 3.

After that, the couple will embark on their happily ever after.

The ONE Interim Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion shared:

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

Source