Retirement lasted exactly five months for Liam Harrison, whose symbolic gesture of laying down his gloves after his September 2024 defeat couldn’t suppress the competitive fire that burns inside fighters who define themselves through combat.

The 40-year-old British legend returns to ONE Championship action against Japanese striker Shinji Suzuki in bantamweight kickboxing at ONE Fight Night 38 on Prime Video on December 5, broadcasting live from Bangkok where both veterans swap 4-ounce gloves for larger mitts in their first promotional kickboxing encounter.

Harrison’s departure from the sport came through crushing three-knockdown sequence against Seksan Or Kwanmuang at ONE 168: Denver, where the Englishman’s trademark pressure couldn’t break the Thai icon’s legendary durability. The former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title challenger dropped his gloves center-Circle that night, believing his 24-year professional career had reached its natural conclusion after becoming a three-time Muay Thai World Champion.

But combat sports addiction doesn’t respect retirement announcements. Harrison returned five months later to contest the WBC Muay Thai Diamond Belt against Isaac Araya at Hitman Fight League 7 in Manchester, turning back time through vintage aggression that finished the Spaniard with a leg kick in round three. That March victory pushed his record to 92-26 while proving “Hitman” still carries championship-level finishing power.

Now he brings that all-action style back to the global stage, hunting another comeback moment reminiscent of his breathtaking April 2022 knockout of Muangthai PK Saenchai where he rallied from certain defeat to deliver devastating stoppage.

Suzuki threatens to derail those redemption plans despite his own career inconsistency since earning his 2022 Road to ONE: Japan tournament contract. The 39-year-old Fujimakick Muay Thai Gym representative has alternated between victories and defeats across three promotional appearances, most recently absorbing a third-round loss from Jake Peacock at ONE 171: Qatar in February.

His March 2024 victory over former ONE World Title challenger Han Zi Hao proved the Japanese veteran remains dangerous when his game clicks properly. Both Harrison and Suzuki stand at career crossroads where cautious fighting contradicts their entire approach to the sport, guaranteeing high-octane exchanges when these legendary warriors collide in December.

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