ONE 168: Denver is set to take place inside the Ball Arena in Denver, marking the promotion’s return to the United States since ONE Fight Night 10. The main event features a highly anticipated matchup between the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan Haggerty and flyweight kickboxing king Superlek Kiatmoo9.

As this highly anticipated clash draws near, two-sport World Champion Haggerty is busy preparing to face current flyweight kickboxing champion Superlek Kiatmoo9.

Coach hails Jonathan Haggerty as a diamond

It’s incredibly difficult for any coach to send a student into the fight. Witnessing their student win and experiencing their subsequent joy is an immensely rewarding experience. This is certainly the case for Jonathan Haggerty and his coach, Alan Keddle, whose relationship transcends that of simply teacher and student.

This special relationship was evident in Jonathan Haggerty’s recent vlog, where the coach compared Haggerty to a diamond. He reckoned, “The minute he walks in, I knew he was a diamond in the rough. Some diamonds become the most brilliant rings in the world, while others possess natural talent and ability waiting to be unearthed.”

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Continuing further, the coach added, “It was amazing working with him. I could see his potential right away. You get a sense of these things after running a gym for 30 years come July, and only a handful of students truly stand out. You just know when you see it.”

Keddle, who has been training Jonathan Haggerty, is confident this time he will win against Superlek Kiatmoo9. He also emphasized coaches can identify talent quickly. Jonathan Haggerty’s coach believes champions are made, not born, requiring both talent and hard work. Meanwhile, Haggerty’s other coach Christian Knowles is excited about the matchup as he acknowledged Haggerty’s past loss to Superlek but expects nerves, regardless.

Coach admits nerves about Haggerty’s fights

The renowned coach of Knowles Academy in London feels nervous whenever his top student, Jonathan Haggerty, who is a two-time Muay Thai and one-time kickboxing champion, steps into the circle for a fight. In an interview with Wesley Gunman, the coach acknowledged these facts.

He said, “Yeah, 100 percent. The boys always tell me, ‘You’re nervous, Chris. ‘But for me, it’s more exciting.” He reveals that he never admits his nervousness to Haggerty, but he is nervous because he has deep emotions invested. Furthermore, Knowles revealed the secret behind Haggerty’s success is prioritizing accuracy.

According to the coach, it’s not about forcing, but about accuracy. He emphasized that relying on accuracy ultimately benefits the fighter, even if it might seem more demanding at times. In his words, “To be sharp, you have to be accurate, and that comes naturally, without forcing it.”

Do you think Haggerty can defeat Superlek at ONE 168: Denver? Drop your predictions in the comments below.