Jonathan Haggerty To Defend ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing Crown Against Former King Hiroki Akimoto
A champion who has never lost inside the ONE kickboxing ring now meets the only man who has ever worn his crown before him.
Jonathan “The General” Haggerty defends the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title against former champion Hiroki Akimoto at ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17. The two world-class strikers collide live from Tokyo’s iconic Ariake Arena.
The London native carries a career record of 24-5 and sits at 10-3 inside the promotion. He remains undefeated in kickboxing competition under the ONE banner.
Haggerty already held the Flyweight and Bantamweight Muay Thai World Titles before adding kickboxing gold to his collection. He became a two-sport champion by flatlining Fabricio Andrade in the second round at ONE Fight Night 16.
Since then, the belt has become entirely his own. He turned back Chinese veteran Wei Rui for his first defense in 2025, then outclassed Japanese veteran Yuki Yoza at the inaugural ONE SAMURAI 1 to retain it for a second time.
Now another Japanese challenger stands in his path, and this one knows the throne intimately. Akimoto once sat on it himself.
The 33-year-old Tokyo-based striker carries a 29-4 record and nine promotional victories into the biggest fight of his comeback. He won five of his first six bouts before claiming the title at ONE X in 2022.
Akimoto lost the belt soon after and endured a difficult stretch, but 2025 changed everything. Victories over former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John Lineker and Wei Rui underlined his rebuilt momentum.
A split-decision win over compatriot Taimu Hisai earlier this year confirmed him as the rightful next challenger for the title he once held. Few fighters on the roster understand the stakes of this rematch with history better than he does.
With an unbeaten kickboxing run on one side and a former champion hunting redemption on the other, Ariake Arena is set for a genuine striking classic on October 17.
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