ONE Championship ONE Championship British superstar Jonathan “The General” Haggerty experienced the highest highs and lowest lows in 2024.
The 27-year-old is now preparing for his February 2025 clash against “Demon Blade” Wei Rui at ONE 171: Qatar, where he will defend his ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title for the first time.
Haggerty recently took some time out of his training camp to look back on the up-and-down year that was 2024.
He began the year as the reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion, fresh off a 2023 campaign that established him as a global icon and arguably the planet’s top pound-for-pound striker.
In February, he put his Muay Thai gold on the line against Brazilian standout Felipe “Demolition Man” Lobo at ONE Fight Night 19. While he came into that bout as the favorite, Haggerty was pushed to the brink of defeat, suffering a stunning first-round knockdown.
“The General” rallied and roared back to score an unforgettable third-round knockout in one of the year’s most electrifying fights.
According to Haggerty, he came into that bout with a heavy heart shortly after the passing of his uncle:
"This series is not just about the two teams playing; it's about reviving the spirit of hockey in Delhi. We hope this will inspire more young players from the region to take up the game," Harmanpreet stated in a press release issued by Hockey India.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey expressed his enthusiasm and stated: "This bilateral series against Germany will be a remarkable showcase of world-class hockey. Both India and Germany have a rich history in the sport, and this series will give fans an opportunity to witness an intense competition between two of the most formidable teams in the world.
“It was a tough fight. It wasn’t what we’d planned for, but it was a war. The fans loved it, and that’s what matters. It’s a win-win.
“I learned a lot from the Lobo fight. Getting back off the ropes after getting knocked down in round one, I knew I’d come back and get the victory. My uncle had passed away a few weeks prior, but I felt his presence. Like Rocky hearing Mickey, I heard my uncle telling me to get up and fight on and get to work.”
That sensational victory cemented the Brit’s status as one of the striking art’s most devastating knockout artists.
In September, he returned to headline ONE’s blockbuster return to U.S. soil with ONE 168. There, his goal was to defend his Muay Thai crown against flyweight kickboxing kingpin Superlek “The Kicking Machine” Kiatmoo9.
After months of arduous and meticulous preparations, Haggerty’s night came to a disappointingly quick end as he suffered a 49-second knockout loss in front of a packed house at Denver’s Ball Arena:
“Obviously, that didn’t go to plan. It wasn’t meant to be a walk in the park. We expected a hard fight, but we didn’t expect to be stopped in 49 seconds. That was a bit of a downer, but we’re back now and raring to go. We don’t lose, we learn.
“I felt amazing in the lead-up, I went out to Denver a month before and spent a lot of time, effort, money on this fight camp to get everything perfect. Everything was, too. The most gutting aspect is the fact that after 13 weeks, I didn’t get to show any of the work I put in. If we had gone a few rounds, it would’ve been a tough night for Superlek. But we move on and we learn from the experience.”
All in all, Haggerty has taken 2024 in stride.
He admitted that he had hoped for a better year of competition but is now resolutely focused on reaching new heights in 2025:
“I wouldn’t say it’s the best year I’ve had. Twenty-twenty-three was great in comparison. It’s the way it goes; you can’t always have it your own way. I’m just going to make sure 2025 is going to be the best year possible.”
Looking ahead, Jonathan Haggerty is targeting an unprecedented feat in 2025.
He plans to retain his ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title at ONE 171 before returning to Muay Thai to reclaim the 26 pounds of gold he previously held:
“My goal in 2025 is to become double-champ again. I’ve done it before and I want to do it again next year. I don’t think there’s ever been a two-time, two-sport ONE World Champion, and I want to set another record with that. I’m here to take all the belts. It’s why I signed with ONE.”
Outside of the ring or Circle, “The General” hopes to continue evolving, not just as an athlete but also as a business owner and, quite possibly, a father.
He added:
“I’m looking to start a family myself if I’m honest. If it happens, I’ll be buzzing. I’m continuing to go forward in this game too. I’m opening up my own gym, Haggerty Academy. I think I’ll be doing that after this fight and start working on the next generation both in the gym and in my house.”
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