JONATHAN HAGGERTY is once again on the cusp of making history – only this time in a different sport.
The General became a two-division ONE Championship Muay Thai titleholder seven months ago with a stunning first-round knockout of Nong-O Rama – a result which sent shockwaves around the world.
Most fighters would be happy sit back and rest on their laurels after immortalising themselves.
But not Haggerty, who will look to further etch his name into the history books by adding ONE’s vacant bantamweight kickboxing title to his collection at ONE Fight Night 16 in Bangkok on Friday.
He told SunSport: “It’s a little bit surreal [to be fighting for a world title in a different sport].
“Once I get the belt on that shoulder and that one [points to both his shoulders], I’m basically the man. I’ve made it.”
Getting his hands on a ONE kickboxing title has long been on the mind of Haggerty, although he was somewhat shocked when CEO Chatri Sityodtong came knocking with the offer.
“I didn’t expect it myself,” Haggerty admitted. “I know me and Andrade have had some back and forth, but i didn’t expect it.
“I got a message from Chatri and he’s very articulate.
“He wants to bring the champion-versus-champion fights and he loves the matchmaking of the dream fights.
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“He wants to give the fans what they want. So me, I accepted it and said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’
“I’m excited for it, it’s a new sport, it’s a new challenge and I thrive on new challenges.
“So I was well up for it, especially when they said it was for the kickboxing world title. I was like, ‘Yeah, that sounds good.'”
Standing between Haggerty and history is ONE’s reigning 145lb MMA champion Fabricio Andrade, who the Knowlesy Academy standout can’t wait to test himself against.
Haggerty refuses to underestimate the Brazilian but can’t help but think of what the future might hold for him should he be victorious in their Bangkok bust-up.
He added: “I’ve always said I one on that shoulder and one on that shoulder.
‘But now it’s coming so close to getting that, I’m like, ‘What do I do next?’ After I do beat Andrade, let’s go for his belt.”
At just the tender age of 26 and with his best years well and truly ahead of him, Haggerty has already achieved what many fighters could only dream of.
But he insists there is plenty more work for him to do before he’ll be truly satisfied.
He said: “The main times I think [about my achievements] is when I’m training and I’m feeling down in training and it’s hard work.
“And then it comes to my mind, ‘Just believe in yourself.
“‘What you’ve done, what you’ve achieved and what you’re going to achieve is amazing.
“‘So just get up and get back to work.'”
That work starts with seeing off what will be a formidable and dangerous challenge from Brazilian bruiser Andrade.
Haggerty is under no illusions of the size of the task on his hands but is confident of passing what will be a bruising testing with flying colours.
He said: “I feel like he’s gonna come forward or he’s going to be working on the counter-attacks.
“Either way, he’s gonna get hurt. And I’m gonna drag him into deep waters – that’s my goal.
“Drag him into deep waters and make him go back into his corner and make him think, ‘Rah, what can I do now?'”
