“Keep going young legend” - Fans all hyped up for the start of Jonathan Haggerty’s redemption arc against Wei Rui in Qatar

Jonathan Haggerty is putting in tremendous work as he prepares to defend his ONE bantamweight kickboxing world championship, and fans are buzzing with excitement to witness his return to action.

The English standout is set to headline ONE 171 at the Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar on February 20, where he will put his title on the line against Chinese striking sensation Wei Rui.

As anticipation builds, ONE Championship recently heightened the hype by sharing a highlight reel of Haggerty’s past triumphs alongside a sneak peek of his training regimen:

Fans flocked to the comments section of the Instagram post, showering him with praise and voicing their confidence in his chances to retain the belt:

"Keep going young legend."

"The champ."

"Poetry in motion."

"The General by however he wants. Whenever he wants."

"The best of the best GOAT."

The fervor surrounding Haggerty’s career is no surprise, especially after his meteoric rise in 2023. That year, ‘The General’ joined the elite ranks of two-sport world champions in the promotion.

Haggerty, who once reigned as the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion, made a bold decision to move up in weight in pursuit of new challenges.

The gamble paid off spectacularly in April 2023 when he shocked the combat sports world by dethroning Nong-O Hama to claim the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title.

Haggerty’s emphatic first-round knockout, capped by a thunderous face-planting punch, became an instant classic.

Just seven months later, Haggerty showcased his versatility once more, dismantling reigning ONE bantamweight MMA world champion Fabricio Andrade in under two rounds to seize the vacant bantamweight kickboxing crown.

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Jonathan Haggerty seeks redemption in next outing

Now, Jonathan Haggerty is eager to not only retain his bantamweight kickboxing belt but also bounce back from a humbling setback.

Recently, he suffered a heartbreaking 49-second knockout loss at the hands of Superlek Kiatmoo9, which cost him the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world championship.

With redemption on his mind, Haggerty views the upcoming clash with Wei Rui as a chance to regain his momentum and solidify his legacy as one of the most dominant athletes in ONE history.