From London Premieres to Hollywood Dreams: Jonathan Haggerty Opens Up on Life Beyond the Ring

The 29-year-old British superstar has opened up about attending movie premieres in London, his ambitions beyond the ring, and which cinematic character he identifies with most ahead of his next title defense.

Haggerty will put his ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship on the line against former divisional king Hiroki Akimoto in the main event of ONE SAMURAI 4, which goes down in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, October 17.

But before the fight preparations, there is a movie career to plan.

Haggerty Attends London Premieres, Would Never Say No to a Hollywood Role

The British champion has been making his presence felt on the red carpet in London, and the experience has clearly sparked something beyond a passing interest in the film world. Haggerty has kept the door firmly open on what might come next.

"I'm enjoying going to all these premieres, so if there's a day I get the offer to become part of a big movie, I'd never say never. I'd love to be part of a big Hollywood movie. I think I'll thrive," Haggerty stated.

Haggerty is undefeated across all his ONE Championship kickboxing appearances and has won eight of his last nine bouts across both Muay Thai and kickboxing. His 10-3 ONE Championship record and 24-5 striking career mark have established him as one of the finest pound-for-pound strikers on the planet today.

ONE World Champion Has Already Cast His Movie

Not content with simply expressing an interest in Hollywood, Haggerty has gone ahead and cast the lead role. The choice reflects a fighter with a clear sense of the image he projects and a convenient in-house option for the supporting cast.

"Daniel Craig will be the perfect guy who can play my role. I'll get Freddie in there too so he can act as the younger version of myself. As for how the movie ends, I'd love for it to end with a knockout," he said.

Freddie Haggerty, Jonathan's younger brother and fellow ONE Championship Muay Thai fighter, gets the young version role while the former James Bond actor takes the lead. The casting is fitting for a champion with an air of composed menace inside the ring.

'The General' Compares Himself to John Wick for the Mysterious Aura

When it comes to existing cinematic characters, Haggerty has already identified his counterpart. The comparison is not accidental. After all, the Brit sees genuine parallels between his own style and one of action cinema's most celebrated figures.

"John Wick, because he's an assassin. I see a lot of stuff that I do that he can do, too. And there's always that mysterious aura about John Wick, so it just makes perfect sense if I'm being honest," he said.

With an assassin's clinical finishing, a mysterious aura, and a record that features a perfect kickboxing run, the comparison is not hard to follow.

Akimoto's nine ONE Championship victories, current form, and previous title reign make him another credible threat to Haggerty’s reign, and the October 17 main event in Tokyo will reveal whether “The General” can maintain the mystique that makes the John Wick comparison feel earned.