Youssef began practicing Muay Thai at the age of 12 and moved to Thailand with his brother, Yassine Boughanem, at the age of 17 to focus on training on a fulltime basis. Yassine is a Muay Thai fighter in the heavyweight division. He gained prominence when he competed in the first-ever THAI FIGHT event in 2010. On August 29, 2010, he defeated Australia's Jason Lea in the round-of-sixteen. He then defeated Ireland's Anthony Kane via extra-round decision in the quarter-finals on October 25, 2010. On December 6, 2010, Boughanem defeated Soichiro Miyakoshi to advance to the final round of the THAI FIGHT tournament. That same night, he lost to Fabio Pinca in the final, where he finished as the runner-up in the 2010 THAI FIGHT 67kg Tournament. After his first THAI FIGHT outing, Boughanem fought for different programs around Thailand and France. He eventually returned in 2013 when THAI FIGHT unveiled their new format: THAI FIGHT Kard Chuek. This format saw fighters wearing rope bindings instead of gloves and would eventually become the defining characteristic for subsequent THAI FIGHT events. Youssef Boughanem would enter the inaugural THAI FIGHT Kard Chuek tournament. On June 1, 2013, he defeated Salahdine Ait Naceur by second-round knockout in the 1/16 finals. He then beat Sebastien Billard in the 1/8 finals by first-round knockout on June 15, 2013. On 3 March, 2012, Boughanem faced Rajadamnern Stadium champion Diesellek TopkingBoxing and got knocked out with a left kick at Lumpini Stadium. On July 14, 2013, Boughanem faced Burmese fighter Zaw Tum in the quarterfinals and won by decision. Zaw Tum is better known as Tun Tun Min and went on to become Openweight Lethwei World Champion. On July 29, 2013, Boughanem was eliminated from the tournament when he lost in the semifinal round by decision to Saiyok Pumpanmuang, who eventually finished as the THAI FIGHT Kard Chuek tournament runner-up. On August 15, 2015, Youssef Boughanem defeated Rungrawee P.K. Saenchaimuaythaigym by third-round knockout to capture the Omnoi Stadium middleweight title. He successfully defended the Omnoi Stadium title against Chanajon P.K. Saenchai Muaythaigym by five-round decision on September 26 of the same year. After an absence from the promotion in 2014, Youssef Boughanem made his return to THAI FIGHT in late 2015, appearing at THAI FIGHT Vietnam on October 24, 2015. There, he faced Russian fighter Yurik Davtyan and won by decision. Later on, he entered the 2015 THAI FIGHT 72.5kg tournament. In the tournament semifinals, Boughanem defeated Rungrawee P.K. Saenchaimuaythaigym at THAI FIGHT RPCA on November 21, 2015. On December 31, 2015, he defeated Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee at THAI FIGHT Count Down to win the 2015 THAI FIGHT 72.5kg tournament and capture his first THAI FIGHT title. On June 24, 2016, Youssef Boughanem defeated Armen Petrosyan via three-decision in Monte Carlo to win the WAKO Pro 71.8kg Championship. On August 31, 2016, he defeated Kompetch Lookprabat by fourth-round knockout to capture the Rajadamnern Stadium middleweight championship. On February 26, 2018, Boughanem retained the Rajadamnern title against Noppakaw Siriluck Muaythai by third-round knockout at Phoenix 5 Bangkok, which also saw him winning the WBC Muay Thai Middleweight World Championship. On April 28, 2018, he defeated by Payakdam Extra Cole Film by third-round TKO to win the IBF Muaythai middleweight title. On May 22, 2018, Youssef Boughanem defeated Talaytong Sor. Thanaphet by fourth-round TKO to win the Lumpinee Stadium middleweight championship. He retained the WBC Muay Thai title against Kongjak Por. Pao In on October 13, 2018, where he also won the ISKA Muay Thai light middleweight title. He defended the WBC Muay Thai title a third time against Joe Craven on April 22, 2019, winning by fourth-round TKO. Boughanem successfully retained the WBC Muay Thai belt in his fourth title defense against Tobias Alexandersson on November 16, 2019, winning a five-round decision.
