“To have a clear win” - Superlek wants to erase all doubt in first victory over Jonathan Haggerty

Superlek Kiatmoo9, the reigning ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion, is facing a tough task to step up into bantamweight Muay Thai and challenge its ruler, Jonathan Haggerty.

Their world title fight will be part of a massive card when ONE returns to the United States for ONE 168 in Denver, Colorado, on September 6.

Ahead of their fight, Superlek spoke to South China Morning Post and explained how he and Haggerty kicked off their rivalry:

"Looking back at the fight with Haggerty, so I was fighting with Muangthai in Buri Ram, the city of Bangkok, and then, 10 days later, I flew to England to fight with Haggerty. And it was a TKO. He got a cut from my elbow, and I did not think I did a good job in that fight. But then the ref just announced TKO."

'The Kicking Machine' then explained why he really wants to go head-to-head against the British kingpin:

"It is one of the main reasons I really, really want to fight Haggerty, it's because a lot of fans in England, they think that TKO shouldn't have happened. They think that the ref said just end the fight, too soon. There was a sound of the fans showing that they were unhappy. So there were, of course, some controversies. I just want to do the rematch, and just win, to have a clear win. I think that's why I really want to fight Haggerty."

Watch the full interview here:

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Superlek believes he'll be at his best when facing Kongthoranee and Jonathan Haggerty

Thai superstar Superlek Kiatmoo9 admits that going into two matches in the next four months would be a challenge on its own, but he's going to manage, especially when he has to make weight.

First, the Thai superstar will face fellow Thai fighter Kongthoranee Sor Sommai at ONE Friday Fights 68 on June 28. Then, he will fly to the United States to challenge the bantamweight Muay Thai king Jonathan Haggerty for his championship belt on Sept. 6.

At the same interview with South China Morning Post, the 28-year-old fighter said:

"Well, of course, the weight would be tricky, the weight cut and the weight gain with such time difference. I think it is a bit tricky for me, because I was preparing to face Jonathan Haggerty at bantmaweight. So I was focusing on gaining the weight, and now that there is this surprise match with Kongthoranee at flyweight, I have to cut the weight down."