Jonathan Haggerty Promises Hiroki Akimoto Will Feel the Full Force at ONE SAMURAI 4
ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan "The General" Haggerty has been waiting years for this fight.
The 29-year-old Londoner defends his 26 pounds of gold against former titleholder Hiroki Akimoto in the main event of ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17, live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Fans in North America will be able to stream it exclusively via live.onefc.com.
Haggerty is undefeated across all his ONE Championship kickboxing appearances and has won his last two title defenses convincingly, stopping Chinese veteran Wei Rui in 2025 and outclassing Japanese veteran Yuki Yoza at ONE SAMURAI 1 earlier this year.
His 10-3 ONE record and 24-5 striking career mark, combined with his previous ONE Flyweight and Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title reigns, make him one of the most decorated pound-for-pound strikers in the promotion's history.
Haggerty Considers Akimoto One of the Best
The excitement in Haggerty's words comes from a place of genuine competitive respect. The British champion has long identified Akimoto as a fighter worth wanting, and the title fight in Tokyo delivers on a matchup he has been anticipating for years.
"I feel excited now that it's finally here. Me and Akimoto are ready to fight. For years, I've always wanted to fight him. I've considered him probably one of the best in the division," Haggerty said.
The unbeaten kickboxing record Haggerty has built since claiming the title against Fabricio Andrade at ONE Fight Night 16 in November 2023 has been constructed against progressively stronger opposition, and Akimoto's resurgent form makes him the toughest test of that run.
British Superstar Acknowledges Akimoto Has Beaten Everyone
The Englishman, who recently cornered his younger brother Freddie, has not downplayed what Akimoto has achieved during his title contender rebuild. Haggerty has given the former champion credit for the body of work that earned him the shot.
"He's been in the organization for a long time. He's fought the best. And now it's his time to challenge me for the belt. He's beaten whoever they've put in front of him. Meanwhile, I've basically beaten the top opponents in the division now, so it was only right for him to get his opportunity," he explained.
Akimoto originally claimed the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship at ONE X in 2022 with a precision striking masterclass over Capitan Petchyindee before a difficult stretch cost him the belt. His methodical rebuild and the quality of his recent victories have demonstrated a former champion operating with the clarity and purpose of a man who knows exactly what he needs to do to reclaim what was his.
Haggerty Promises a Demolition Job and a Full Stop in Tokyo
The respect Haggerty has shown for Akimoto as a competitor disappears the moment he turns to what happens inside Ariake Arena. The British champion has arrived at one of his most direct and confident predictions ahead of a title fight, and the language he used left no room for ambiguity.
"He's very one-dimensional, but I also think he's got good combinations. I do believe I'm going to do a demolition job. Some fights I go in there with game plans and stick to it, but this one I really do think I'm going to put a stop to it – a full stop – and make a real big statement," he said.
A third successive title defense with a finish in the main event of ONE SAMURAI 4 in Tokyo, in front of a Japanese crowd cheering for the hometown former champion, would be the biggest statement performance of Haggerty's kickboxing career.
