ONE Championship: Hiroki Akimoto targeting Jonathan Haggerty kickboxing title shot in Tokyo – ‘it has to be me’
- Japanese kickboxing star has not fought since he lost the ONE bantamweight title to Petchtanong Petchfergus in November 2022
- He is now ‘ready to fight any time’ and sees ONE’s planned return to Japan as perfect setting for showdown with new champ Haggerty
Jonathan Haggerty’s recent knockout victory over Fabricio Andrade came as a shock to many ONE Championship fans, but for Hiroki Akimoto, the fight went more or less as expected.
In fact, there was only one thing that really surprised him about the way the action unfolded: he expected both men to be faster.
“I expected a fast fight because it was a bantamweight fight, but I didn’t see a lot of speed from both fighters,” the Singapore-based kickboxer told the Post from his home country of Japan.
“I think I have more speed [than them].”
Haggerty, ONE’s reigning bantamweight Muay Thai champ, met Andrade in the main event of ONE Fight Night 16 on November 4 in Bangkok, with the promotion’s vacant bantamweight kickboxing title on the line.
Akimoto, 31, previously held that title himself after a thrilling unanimous decision win over Thai star Capitan Petchyindee in March 2022. He lost the title with a split decision defeat to another Thai in Petchtanong Petchfergus the following November.
Akimoto has not fought since his loss to Petchtanong, who was later stripped of the title after failing a drug test.
He admits the loss exposed some gaps in his armour, but after almost a year in the gym, he is ready to get back into the ring or Circle.
“In the last fight against Petchtanong, I understood my own weaknesses. I’ve been focusing on improving those parts, and also my strengths as well,” he said.
“I know some fighters say it’s hard for them to maintain motivation without fighting, but for me, I’m fighting against myself every day.
“I’m training every day, feeling improvements, little by little. I’m ready to fight any time. Physically, I’m ready. Once the fight is confirmed, I just need to adjust for the specific opponent. ”
Akimoto, who remains ONE’s No 1-ranked bantamweight kickboxing contender, has a long list of potential opponents for his next fight, but is hoping for a title fight against Haggerty, and with ONE plotting an imminent return to Tokyo, believes it could even happen on his home soil.
“My skills deserve a title shot,” he said. “Haggerty versus Akimoto will be the most exciting fight for the fans, that’s why fans are talking about it. That’s the reason I should get the title shot.
“If Haggerty goes to a different division, maybe it’s not me, but if Haggerty is fighting bantamweight kickboxing, the opponent has to be me. If there’s a Japan event, of course I definitely want to fight there.”
Haggerty is not Akimoto’s only option.
He could also be booked against another contender like Nong-O Hama, Alaverdi Ramazanov, or Felipe Lobo, and would have “no problem” accepting such a match-up.
He is also interested in a showdown with flyweight kickboxing champion Superlek Kiatmookao, who has been flirting with a move up to bantamweight after missing weight for a Muay Thai title fight with fellow Thai Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
“If Superlek comes to bantamweight, I can beat him,” he said. “When I saw the news that Superlek missed weight badly when he fought Rodtang, I thought, ‘Why don’t you come up to bantamweight soon?’
“We both move forward and strike non-stop so it’s going to be a fun fight.”
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Whomever Akimoto fights in his return to action, and whether it happens in Japan or elsewhere, he is confident that the he will reclaim the title before all is said and done.
“I’m really hoping to get confirmation for a fight, and for the Japan event as well,” he said. “I’m 100 per cent confident. I’m ready to get the belt back.”
