Josh Tonna eyes One Championship bout at Canberra Stadium and hunts for Sam-A Gaiyanghadao

Tonna has been installed as the No. 1 contender in One Championship's Muay Thai strawweight division to set up a possible title bout with Thai superstar Sam-A Gaiyanghadao.

The Canberra product sits at fourth in the kickboxing rankings - another division in which Gaiyanghadao reigns supreme.

Now he wants to be the man to headline One's foray into Australia with chief executive Chatri Sityodtong keen to expand the promotion's footprint.

Tonna has contacted ACT sport and recreation minister Yvette Berry about the prospect of luring the rapidly-growing brand to the capital.

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The dream? To replicate Jeff Horn's stunning world championship victory over Manny Pacquiao on home soil in an upset that sent shockwaves around the boxing world in 2017.

"I would love to be a part of One coming to Australia and having a fight in Canberra," Tonna said.

"I emailed Yvette Berry about trying to get a fight like this one and replicating the Jeff Horn-Manny Pacquiao fight, that's what I was hoping. It would be pretty tough, especially with COVID, but that's a plan I have in the back of my mind.

"I want to have a big world title fight, whether I'm challenging for it or defending it, in Canberra. I envision it in Canberra Stadium. That would be really cool to have like 20,000 people there.

"That's a goal I have. The biggest thing Canberra has is the Raiders, they've never had any combat sports like the UFC.

"This could be the biggest thing they ever have, because they don't have any athletes on the same level so officials wouldn't really bring one over.

"It's the biggest I could get in my sport. It's as big as a UFC title. It would be good to be in with the superstars, it's good to be amongst those guys. I know I can beat him. Anyone can be beaten, everyone is human."

The coronavirus pandemic has restricted Tonna's training program to running, bodyweight exercises - meaning a whole lot of burpees and push-ups - and shadow boxing.

But the prospect of going toe-to-toe with a Muay Thai legend like "Sam-A" is all Tonna needs to fuel the fire.

The fight never strays too far from Tonna's mind, and one of the most exciting fighters on the roster wouldn't have it any other way.

"I enjoy thinking about it, everything is structured around that. It'll be more intense once we're back in the gym and it's all confirmed," Tonna said.

"I've been thinking about it a lot, that's what I've been chasing for a long time, something as big as this. That's what I want. I know it's going to make my profile a lot bigger and accelerate my career forward.

"I've been training for a long time and fighting for a long time, but it's almost like becoming an overnight sensation if you can beat Sam-A.

"There's no such thing as an overnight sensation really, but it's just that I'm not as well known as a lot of these guys. I will be afterwards.

"I suspect it's going to be the next one when all of the events are up and running. Everyone knows that's the next fight to make for our division."