"It may just hit him like a ton of bricks" - Jonathan Haggerty says Superlek will regret not acclimating to Denver's altitude sooner

Jonathan Haggerty believes his ONE 168 opponent Superlek Kiatmoo9 has already made a costly miscalculation even before they enter the Circle.

'The General' will defend his bantamweight Muay Thai throne against his tormentor on Sept. 6 at the Ball Arena in the curtain closer of the epic ONE 168: Denver spectacle.

Apart from the pressure of performing in the promotion's United States return, another serious matter to take into account is the dreaded altitude that Denver is known for.

After all, even the best strikers in the world could end up struggling if their gas tank won't be able to hold up in such an unforgiving terrain.

Jonathan Haggerty, though, made sure he was prepared for all the possibilities and came to Denver early to get acclimated to the altitude.

However, the same cannot be said for Superlek, who's still in Thailand with a week left before the fight.

As far as the two-sport world champion is concerned, 'The Kicking Machine' could end up paying for this decision. Jonathan Haggerty explained to the South China Morning Post:

"I think that could play a big part in it. And him having that extra weight, he's not going to be used to it. And then on top of that, the elevation and the altitude. It may just hit him like a ton of bricks. So we'll see."

Jonathan Haggerty says altitude training helped him immensely

Jonathan Haggerty has been in Denver for a month now, and he believes his decision is already paying off.

For instance, 'The General' admitted he felt winded in his first few workouts in the Centennial State. He said:

“My team and I, we came to Denver four weeks before the week to get acclimated with the altitude," Haggerty told Sports Illustrated. "I’ve noticed a difference. It’s helped to get out here early. The fifty kicks I start out with in training, I felt that a lot differently. But we’re getting there.”

We'll soon see if Haggerty's preparations bear fruit at ONE 168: Denver. Tickets for this stacked event are available via Ticketmaster.