‘I’ll Be A Tougher Opponent For Him’ – Hiroki Akimoto Expects To Push Jonathan Haggerty Into New Territory At ONE SAMURAI 4
Former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Hiroki Akimoto believes he can present Jonathan “The General” Haggerty with a challenge unlike any the reigning king has faced in ONE Championship.
The Japanese star will attempt to reclaim the throne he once ruled when he challenges Haggerty for the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title in the main event of ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
The 34-year-old Power of Dream representative enters the showdown on a three-fight winning streak, having outpointed former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John “Hands of Stone” Lineker, Chinese star “Demon Blade” Wei Rui, and Taimu Hisai. Those victories have highlighted the speed, sharp combinations, disciplined movement, and punishing kicks that once carried Akimoto to ONE gold.
Standing in his way is a champion who knocked out Fabricio Andrade to claim the vacant belt before defending it against Wei and Yuki Yoza. Akimoto has watched Haggerty develop from a Muay Thai specialist into a more complete kickboxer, and he has considerable respect for what the Englishman now brings to the table.
Akimoto said:
“The fight where he won the title, he won by KO. And in his fights against Wei Rui and against Yoza, he showed he can control a fight well either way. Originally from Muay Thai, he can finish opponents, but he can also score points properly.
“I really think he’s an excellent fighter. And beyond that, his team, his coaches and trainers, seem really excellent too from what I’ve seen. So I imagine they’ll come up with all kinds of strategies for this fight against me, but I’m also completely prepared in every way. I’m looking forward to showing that.”
The admiration runs both ways. Haggerty has followed Akimoto’s career for years and has made no secret of how highly he rates the former champion.
For Akimoto, that recognition only increases his desire to show Haggerty firsthand why he has remained among the division’s elite through both championship glory and adversity.
He said:
“Given that I went through three losses in a row, the fact that he still felt that way about me might mean he expected me to climb back up.
“I think I’ll be a tougher opponent for him than anyone he’s faced before. It’s nice that he felt that way, but I want to prove it properly in the fight.”
Akimoto was also ringside on the same ONE SAMURAI 1 card where Haggerty neutralized Yoza over five rounds to retain his gold.
He came away impressed by the Brit’s ability to enter hostile territory and control one of Japan’s most dangerous strikers. Still, the former titleholder expects a very different contest when Haggerty stands across from him.
Akimoto said:
“Coming to Japan and defending the title on enemy turf with such a dominant performance really is impressive. But I promise the fight with me won’t go that way.”
Akimoto Wants To Take Away Haggerty’s Space
Hiroki Akimoto’s confidence is rooted in more than his recent winning streak.
The former divisional king has studied the details behind Jonathan Haggerty’s success, particularly the Brit’s frequent stance switches and his ability to create favorable attacking angles.
Rather than rushing into those transitions, Akimoto wants to stay disciplined and make Haggerty work for every opening.
He said:
“He’s a switch-hitter, someone who switches stances a lot. I think a lot of the fighters he’s faced before have been a bit sloppy in how they approached him.
“I want to handle that carefully. And on the flip side, I’ve also got plenty of surprises prepared, so I hope everyone looks forward to seeing them.”
That approach fits Akimoto’s own strengths. His Kyokushin Karate background has long given him a diverse kicking arsenal, while years spent at the highest level of kickboxing have sharpened his boxing, footwork, timing, and ability to change rhythm over the course of a fight.
Haggerty brings considerable speed and power of his own, but Akimoto does not believe the defending champion holds a decisive physical advantage. Instead, he sees Haggerty’s command of range and his lateral movement as the areas that require the most attention.
Akimoto said:
“Haggerty does have power, but I don’t think I’ll lose out on power. I’m confident in my power, stamina, and speed.
“I think the thing I really need to watch out for with Haggerty is his range, distance management, and his movement to take angles. If I can shut those down well, I don’t think I’ll have any trouble winning.”
The challenger has also heard Haggerty’s prediction that the fight will end in the second round.
Rather than being unsettled by that confidence, Akimoto believes an aggressive champion could give him exactly the opportunities he wants.
He said:
“Of course, I’ve prepared for every scenario. But Haggerty said at the press conference earlier that he’s going for a second-round finish, and if he comes at me looking for a finish, that actually makes it easier for me to finish him.
“It depends on how he comes at me, but if he comes to knock me out, there’s a chance I end up knocking him out instead.”
