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Jonathan Haggerty’s journey to the bantamweight muay Thai division
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Jonathan Haggerty
After a few medical mishaps, famed ONE Championship fighter Jonathan Haggerty is making his long-awaited return to the Circle.
“The General” takes on rising Russian star Vladimir Kuzmin in a bantamweight Muay Thai bout at ONE Fight Night 4: Abbasov vs. Lee on Nov. 19 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Viewers have been itching to see the 25-year-old back in battle since his last appearance earlier this year. With a record of 18-4 and having held the ONE flyweight muay Thai world title, Haggerty’s style represents what makes this generation of muay Thai so exciting.
He quickly became a fan favorite after his debut in the organization in January 2019. The Brit won a unanimous decision over future ONE strawweight muay Thai world champion Joseph Lasiri at ONE: ETERNAL GLORY and quickly established himself as an explosive fighter.
Just a few months later, Haggerty stunned the world when he defeated muay Thai legend Sam-A Gaiyanghadao for the ONE flyweight muay Thai world championship at ONE: FOR HONOR.
Then only 22 years old, Haggerty went five rounds with the Thai, who had more than 400 fights and multiple muay Thai world titles. After going toe-to-toe with the illustrious Sam-A, “The General” emerged from the Circle victorious, awash in a rain of gold confetti.
Read also: Garry Tonon threatens to ‘break off’ Shamil Gasanov’s leg in response to calloutHowever, his reign as ONE flyweight muay Thai world champion was short-lived after losing the belt to Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES in August 2019 and failing to recapture it against the same man at ONE: A NEW TOMORROW in January 2020.
Ever the competitor, the Englishman quickly bounced back and picked up two subsequent victories. The first was against Taiki “Silent Sniper” Naito at ONE: BIG BANG II in December 2020. He then defeated Mongkolpetch Petchyindee by unanimous decision this past February at ONE: BAD BLOOD.
At bantamweight, even more opportunities make themselves available to the crafty fighter – if he should beat Kuzmin.
Don’t miss ONE Fight Night 4: Abbasov vs. Lee on Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets can be purchased at https://ticketmaster.sg/activity/detail/22_onenovsg.
This article was published in collaboration with ONE Championship.
