Jonathan Haggerty returned to the ring on Thursday night at ONE 171, facing Rui ‘Demon Blade’ Wei in the co-main event.
Kickboxing champion Jonathan ‘The General’ Haggerty competed for the first time since his knockout loss in a Muay Thai match against Superlek Kiatmoo9.
Haggerty was determined to prove his capabilities against the highly experienced Rui Wei, who entered the fight with an impressive record of 70 wins and only three losses. The event took place in Qatar.
‘Demon Blade’ came into this match on a 21-fight winning streak, yet was considered the underdog against Haggerty.
ONE 171 Co-Main Event Result: Haggerty vs. Wei
Jonathan ‘The General’ Haggerty successfully defended his 145lbs kickboxing title by defeating Rui ‘Demon Blade’ Wei at ONE 171’s co-main event.
Haggerty’s dominant performance indicated a promising future in his kickboxing career.
Despite limited experience in kickboxing compared to Muay Thai, the 28-year-old from London silenced critics with a decisive victory.
‘Demon Blade’ had an undefeated streak since 2018, boasting 21 consecutive wins.
Haggerty secured a unanimous decision win, with judges scoring the bout 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46.
Haggerty’s future plans are uncertain, but he has expressed interest in returning to Muay Thai, especially after his previous KO defeat to Superlek.
Following his victory, Haggerty commented on his opponent, stating, “Many underestimated Wei Rui.”
He acknowledged Wei as a formidable opponent, “He is truly one of the best I’ve faced.”
Haggerty added, “It was an honor to compete with him. Despite doubts from others, I remained focused.”
He concluded, “I knew my objective was to win, and I achieved it.”
Haggerty admitted this fight held significant personal importance due to the prior knockout loss to Superlek.
“This victory means a great deal to me,” he shared.
“After losing to Superlek, questions arose about my resilience.”
“Thoughts of the 49-second knockout crossed my mind, and I dedicated immense effort to preparing for this fight.”
