Jonathan Haggerty Eyes Two-Sport Glory Again After Stopping Hiroki Akimoto
Fresh off another title defense in Tokyo, Jonathan “The General” Haggerty is already thinking about a second belt. The ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion believes the Muay Thai gold he once held is well within reach.
Haggerty retained his crown with a third-round stoppage of former titleholder Hiroki Akimoto in the main event of ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17, at Ariake Arena. A knee and a final flurry 42 seconds into the round prompted Akimoto’s corner to throw in the towel.
The win was his third successful defense, kept him perfect at 4-0 in kickboxing, and earned him a US$100,000 performance bonus. Before looking ahead, the 29-year-old Londoner made a point of honoring the man who pushed him.
“[Akimoto was] a great opponent, you know. It was a pleasure to share the Circle with him in Japan. He had all the skill set to be the best as well. But, obviously, the best man turned up to win tonight – and that was me. And that is why I am the best in the world at this weight,” Haggerty said.
Akimoto had waited four years for another shot at the gold he once held, rebuilding himself with three straight wins to earn it in front of his countrymen. Haggerty felt that determination firsthand, including a clean hook that briefly rattled him in the opening round.
With the challenger dispatched, the conversation quickly turned to where the Team Underground and Knowlesy Academy star goes next. His answer points back to the sport that first made him famous.
Long before he ruled bantamweight kickboxing, Haggerty captured ONE Muay Thai World Titles at both flyweight and bantamweight. The bantamweight Muay Thai belt now belongs to Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri, and with his kickboxing reign in full flight, the Englishman has every reason to chase it.
He sees no threat to his current crown in the meantime. As far as he is concerned, the kickboxing division has nobody left who can solve him.
“For me, two-sport World Champion sounds good to me. I think I might be top now. [In kickboxing], I don’t think there is anybody in [this] division that could beat me, and I’m gonna stay the champion,” he said.
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