“I Knew It Was a Tough Task” – Newly-Crowned Bantamweight Muay Thai King Jonathan Haggerty Speaks on His Epic Win Over Nong-O

Jonathan “The General” Haggerty did the unimaginable inside the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium last Friday, April 21 – capture the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title from Nong-O Hama.

The main event showdown was his debut in the bantamweight Muay Thai division. And going up against the divisional king on a 10-0 promotional run, including five consecutive knockout wins, was a baptism of fire for the Londoner.

Jonathan Haggerty scored three knockdowns to defeat Nong-O Hama

Haggerty said, “I knew it was a tough task coming into his backyard. It was gonna be hard, but like I said, I’m always thankful for being here and being able to fight in this iconic stadium [made me believe that I can do it].”

Unlike Nong-O’s list of past challengers, Haggerty quickly found a way past the Thai’s tight defensive game and ultra-quick attacks, going to work with his hands to drop the divisional king thrice in the opening round of their headliner battle at ONE Fight Night 9.

The first of those three knockdowns came when he connected with a thudding counter straight right that instantly dropped the longtime king. When the latter regained his feet, he was clearly still on wobbly feet. And just seconds after the restart, “The General” swung in with wild leather, sending the Thai back to where he came from courtesy of jab-straight combinations.

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Sensing blood in the water, the Orpington native caught Nong-O with a final salvo of strikes, a jab-straight, an elbow, a left hook, and a straight right that left the divisional king down and out at 2:40 of the first stanza.

Jonathan Haggerty acknowledged that even the doubters had a role in his victory

Speaking on the monumental win, “The General” said the doubters might have played a massive role that helped him onto his first-round knockout of the Muay Thai legend.

He shared, “It feels amazing, you know. Not just beating Nong-O. But to beat him at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium. Throughout my whole career, I’ve been the underdog, and time and time again, I’ve shown. Don’t doubt me, you know.”

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“The doubters are just fuelling the fire, and they make me work hard, and that’s what got me the belt, you know. Everyone thought I was going to get obliterated, and thank you to you guys for doubting me.” With the win, the Englishman gained the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title and a hefty US$100,000 performance bonus.