SUMMARY
- Rodtang Jitmuangnon is the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion.
- "The Iron Man" is currently recovering from a hand injury that forced him out of the Takeru Segawa fight at ONE 165.
Two-sport ONE Bantamweight World Champion Jonathan Haggerty wants another piece of Rodtang Jitmuangnon. “The General” lost his ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title to Rodtang, who still holds the strap to this day, back in 2019 via unanimous decision in a thrilling contest.
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The pair then renewed hostilities in January 2020, when “The Iron Man” floored Haggerty three times in the third round to retain his World Title via TKO. Haggerty has since made a fruitful move up to bantamweight, which saw the British star win both the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Titles in what was a stunning 2023 campaign. But there is one ghost from the past that still haunts him.
Jonathan Haggerty calls out Rodtang Jitmuangnon for third fight
In a new interview, Jonathan Haggerty has revealed that a third fight with Rodtang Jitmuangnon is still on his mind. Sitting down with SCMP MMA, the 26-year-old said that Rodtang is still a name that is regularly thrust in his direction.
“Yeah, for sure, with Rodtang there is always talk even three years down the line. People are always asking me, ‘When are you going to fight Rodtang? When are you going to fight Rodtang?’” Haggerty said.
“It will happen, you know. I’d always take the fight if it’s offered to me. Maybe they’re building something massive for him to come up to bantamweight because I don’t think I could make flyweight anymore [laughs]. So, when he decides to come up to bantamweight, I’ll give him a welcoming.”
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There has been no real suggestion that a bantamweight tilt is imminent for Rodtang. The flyweight Muay Thai king is currently recovering from a hand injury that derailed a blockbuster kickboxing super-fight with Japanese superstar Takeru Segawa, which was slated for ONE 165 on January 28.
He was replaced by fellow Thai standout and former foe Superlek Kiatmoo9 in the main event, who duly defended his ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title in a pulsating contest via unanimous decision. Haggerty, for his part, is set to defend his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title against Brazilian knockout artist Felipe Lobo in the ONE Fight Night 19 headliner on February 17.