ONE Championship

In January 2019, a 21-year-old newcomer walked out in Jakarta with everything to prove. Nearly eight years later, he heads to Tokyo as a two-sport legend defending gold.

Jonathan Haggerty defends his ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title against former divisional king Hiroki Akimoto at ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17. The contest broadcasts live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

The Briton opened his ONE account against Joseph Lasiri at ONE: ETERNAL GLORY, then stunned Sam-A Gaiyanghadao in his second outing to claim the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title. Two losses to Rodtang Jitmuangnon followed before he left flyweight behind entirely.

The breakthrough came in April 2023, when he became the first athlete on the global stage to finish Nong-O Hama, taking the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title. Months later, he knocked out Fabricio Andrade to capture the vacant kickboxing crown as well.

Superlek eventually took the Muay Thai belt, but the kickboxing title has stayed his. He defended it against Wei Rui at ONE 171: Qatar in February 2025 and against Yuki Yoza at ONE SAMURAI 1 this past April.

“What separates me is probably experience. I’ve been there. I’ve been in the five-round world title fights. I’ve been up against the best in the division, the best in the organization. The lights, the cameras, I’m used to it now,” Haggerty said.

“I’ve been in everybody’s backyard, defended the belt, lost the belt, won it back. I think it’s been a lot of character building for me as well.”

Jonathan Haggerty credits relentless work ethic

Haggerty does not attribute his success to talent or luck. The 29-year-old points to a simple formula he has followed since his earliest days in the sport.

Akimoto offers a stern test of whether that formula still holds.

“I put it all down to hard work. Hard work, dedication, the will to learn, the will to win, and leaving no stone unturned. I train as hard as I possibly can. Like, you wouldn’t believe,” Haggerty said.

“[This] means everything to me, so getting in there and winning it and winning, getting my hand raised, means a lot at the end.”

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM