With a win this Friday, Jonathan “The General” Haggerty would reinforce his #3-contender spot in ONE Championship’s flyweight Muay Thai rankings.
But it won’t be easy, as the former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion will have to overcome Taiki “Silent Sniper” Naito at ONE: BIG BANG II, a previously recorded event from the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
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“Naito’s main attributes are his counterattacks. He likes to make you overstretch, and once you do, that’s when he counters,” Haggerty said.
If the Englishman can avoid those counters and score a highlight-reel victory, it could kick-start another journey back to the gold – beginning with matchups against other top-five contenders.
“I think a spectacular KO in this one, then maybe [I could face] the top two, Panpayak [Jitmuangnon] and Superlek [Kiatmoo9]. Then, hopefully, get my own chance [at the World Title] again,” Haggerty said.
“[Petchdam Petchyindee Academy is also] 100 percent a fight that I’m interested in. I fight well against southpaws. That would be amazing, so bring it on.”
While Haggerty ultimately wants a trilogy bout with reigning divisional king Rodtang, it all starts with beating Naito decisively.
“I feel like I have to win this one, and not only do I have to win it, I have to win it convincingly and in spectacular style,” Haggerty said.
“I’m going to be trying to pull some tricks out of the bag. Let’s get this World Title back.”
“The General” is so confident of a victory that he’s even predicting the exact round it’ll happen in – and teasing a new technique he’s been working on.
“I’d say [I will win by] round-two stoppage. A Jonathan Haggerty downward elbow – then maybe a new trick that I’ve developed in training, so get ready for it,” he said.
“One-hundred percent, I will be back at the top.”
Catch ONE: BIG BANG II, a previously recorded event from the Singapore Indoor Stadium that airs this Friday, 11 December, on meWATCH or the ONE Super App at 8:30 p.m. Singapore Standard Time (SGT). Also, Channel 5 will cut into the broadcast at 10 p.m. SGT.
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