‘My Knees Are My New Elbows’ – Jonathan Haggerty Explains The Switch That Sank Hiroki Akimoto In Tokyo
· Yahoo Sports
Every great World Champion has a night that defines his reign. For English striking maestro Jonathan “The General” Haggerty, Saturday in Tokyo might have been it.
In the main event of ONE SAMURAI 4 at Ariake Arena on October 17, the 29-year-old Londoner overcame former divisional king Hiroki Akimoto just 42 seconds into the third stanza to retain his ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship once more.
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Photo Credit: ONE ChampionshipThe win marked his third successful defense, kept him at a perfect 4-0 in the sport, and lifted his overall striking record to 25-5. It also earned him a US$100,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
For a man who has delivered on so many big stages, this one carried a little extra weight. Moments after the result was confirmed, the Team Underground and Knowlesy Academy star reflected on his latest triumph.
Haggerty told onefc.com:
“I’m feeling great. It was a great fight. I feel like I had to wake myself up a little bit in the first round. The game plan was to pick and poke. But Akimoto surprised me a little bit.
“But, obviously, I’ve done what I do best, and that’s come out strong. I’m grateful for the stoppage and the performance.”
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Victory did not come without resistance, though.
Fighting in front of his home crowd, Akimoto absorbed Haggerty’s early output and landed a clean hook in the opening round that briefly rattled the defending king, who replied with combinations of his own before the bell.
The second stanza brought even more drama. The Englishman’s airborne knee drove Akimoto toward the Circle Wall, only for the Japanese star to fire back with a leaping right hand.
The Brit, however, had the final say. Early in the third, he cracked the Power of Dream affiliate with a sharp right hand that sent the challenger covering up, then connected with a knee up the middle that dropped him to the canvas.
Photo Credit: ONE ChampionshipAkimoto bravely beat the count, but Haggerty sensed the finish and unloaded once more, prompting the challenger’s corner to throw in the towel.
Looking back, the 29-year-old revealed the adjustments that turned the tide.
He said:
“I went to touch him up with the hands first, and see what happens. [I] used the teeps a lot. I used the knees against Yoza a lot, and I went back to my corner in the second round, and I went, ‘Chris [Knowles], shall we start using the knees?’ And that’s when the heat turned on.
“The plan was to get the knees going in the second round, and it was the perfect game plan. My knees are my new elbows. I’ve had to exchange it. Until we get in a Muay Thai fight, the knees are the elbows for now.”
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Haggerty Sets Sights On Two-Sport Glory
Jonathan Haggerty was understandably delighted with the result, but he also made a point of acknowledging the man who stood across from him on the global stage.
Akimoto had waited four years for another shot at the gold he once held, rebuilding himself with three impressive wins to earn his opportunity in front of his compatriots. The Brit, indeed, felt every ounce of that determination inside the Circle at ONE SAMURAI 4.
The Englishman said:
Photo Credit: ONE Championship“[Akimoto was] a great opponent, you know. It was a pleasure to share the Circle with him in Japan. He had all the skill set to be the best as well. But, obviously, the best man turned up to win tonight – and that was me. And that is why I am the best in the world at this weight.”
If his comments about trading elbows for knees are any indication, “the art of eight limbs” is never far from Haggerty’s mind.
Long before he ruled the bantamweight kickboxing ranks, the Londoner built his name in Muay Thai, capturing ONE World Titles at both flyweight and bantamweight. The latter now rests with Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri, and with his kickboxing reign in full flight, Haggerty has every reason to chase the gold he once called his own.
Haggerty said:
“For me, two-sport World Champion sounds good to me. I think I might be top now. [In kickboxing], I don’t think there is anybody in [this] division that could beat me, and I’m gonna stay the champion.”
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