Jonathan Haggerty Vs. Superlek: 4 Keys To Victory In Muay Thai World Title Fight At ONE 168: Denver
ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty and ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9 are undoubtedly two of the greatest pound-for-pound strikers on the planet today.
The popular megastars will each bring skill, power, and finesse to their ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title super-fight at ONE 168: Denver as Superlek aims for two-sport gold this Friday, September 6.
Haggerty will look to employ his crisp repertoire and concussive punching when he defends his gold against the Thai. On the other side, Superlek owns a potent arsenal that could make it a long night for the Englishman.
Both men have many ways to win the fight, but the margins will be small in this main event as ONE Championship returns to North American soil.
Here are the keys to victory for Haggerty and Superlek ahead of their highly anticipated showdown at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
#1 Haggerty’s Linear Weapons
Although both men stand 5-foot-7 tall, Haggerty has the reach advantage – along with the weapons to make it count.
Superlek operates well when he’s moving forward, so “The General” will need to be assertive with his straight punches and push kicks (known as teeps) to command the space between them.
Haggerty also has a sharp jab and a punishing cross that will deter his rival from charging in if he can find his mark.
Even more potent is his spear-like teep, which he stabs into his opponents with great success. It’s quick enough to disrupt Superlek’s rhythm and block his attempts to close the distance, giving Haggerty more chances to work his long-range weapons.
“The General’s” timing with his teep is also impeccable, as he showed when he sent the legendary Sam-A Gaiyanghadao to the canvas while countering a kick.
#2 Superlek’s Front-Foot Tactics
Superlek will have to find a way through Haggerty’s stabbing straight shots so he can press forward, where he is most effective.
The 28-year-old is hard to stop when he gets confidence on the front foot, allowing him to pin opponents back with all of his weapons. He can blast his way in with heavy punches and kicks, creating the opportunity to let rip with his elbows in close.
Those elbows gave Haggerty trouble in their first meeting outside of ONE in 2018, which ended in a TKO win for Superlek. And although the Brit is now much more experienced, Superlek will remember how he was able to effectively score with his short-range shots.
Being the aggressor is important for the Thai’s overarching game plan, as the rare times he has looked vulnerable in ONE have come when he’s been backed up.
#3 Haggerty’s Feints
One of Haggerty’s best tools is his ability to feint and draw out reactions from his opponents.
The 27-year-old lays the foundation by agitating with his jabs and teeps. When his foes attempt to block, he will mix in fakes that compromise their defenses.
This could be “The General’s” best route to landing clean power shots on Superlek, who is defensively solid and has never been knocked out.
If the defending king can get “The Kicking Machine” to bite on his teep feints, he can drop in behind with his concussive right hand or trademark downward elbow.
As a cerebral fighter, Haggerty will also lay traps by firing the same combination and then switching his target. That worked well when he switched a right hook to the body to a head shot against Nong-O Hama – and it could help expose some openings on Superlek.
#4 Superlek’s Powerful Body Strikes
Knowing that Haggerty will try to get to a position where he can land his heavy hands, Superlek would do well to dissuade his foe by making him walk onto his powerful right side.
The challenger can try to punish “The General’s” jab by smashing his famous right body kick into the gap and even trying to take out the standing leg when Haggerty teeps.
“The Kicking Machine” has been utilizing a counter right knee more often recently, and if Haggerty walks forward with punches, expect the Kiatmoo9 representative to fire off his crunching shot to the body.
Rodtang Jitmuangnon found a potential frailty in Haggerty’s armor when he hurt him with body shots, and Superlek’s powerful kicks and knees could test that theory again.
Superlek has also credited his past rival Takeru Segawa for a snapping kick to the body, and that’s another strike he could throw into Haggerty’s midsection in his search for victory.
