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Nicolas Atkin

All martial arts content – including ONE Championship coverage – has been made freely available. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.
ONE Championship boss Chatri Sityodtong is eyeing an audacious Wembley “mega fight” between Tawanchai PK Saenchai and Jonathan Haggerty.
The two Muay Thai champs came face to face at ONE IGNITE, a business-to-business event hosted by the martial arts promotion in Bangkok on Wednesday afternoon.
Haggerty, fresh from becoming a two-sport champion by claiming the bantamweight kickboxing title on Saturday in the Thai capital, had told the Post he dreams of a fight with his featherweight counterpart – because “he’s the biggest challenge”.
The feeling appears to be mutual. “Hope one day we will [fight],” Tawanchai said in a Facebook post on Thursday, along with a picture of the two facing off on stage at the W Bangkok Hotel.












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“Was good to meet you today,” Haggerty responded on Instagram, posting the same picture.
“Someday, there must be that day,” Tawanchai replied in the comments, to which Haggerty responded with a handshake emoji, suggesting they agreed they must fight.
ONE: Haggerty tells Rodtang, Superlek, Tawanchai ‘I’ll take your heads off’
CEO and chairman Chatri certainly believes they should, with the promotion’s social media channels teasing a 2024 showdown.
“Tawanchai vs Jonathan Haggerty is a mega fight that needs to happen,” he told the Post via text message on Thursday.
“We could do that one at Wembley,” Chatri added. “I think ONE can easily sell out Wembley Arena. I dream about selling out Wembley Stadium one day though.”

Filling the iconic 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium would certainly be a tall order for any promotion.
But the 12,500-capacity Wembley Arena would be more than doable for ONE, especially for an on-ground United Kingdom debut with “The General” Haggerty headlining.
“That’s the goal – since I stepped into ONE Championship, my aim was to bring it to the UK, and I feel like we’re getting there now,” Haggerty said in a post-fight media scrum after his win last weekend.
“I’ve got both the belts, so we’re one step closer.”

It could be a while before fans see the potential clash, however, as both men have their hands full in their respective divisions, for now.
Tawanchai is set to defend his title against former featherweight kickboxing champion Superbon Singha Mawynn on December 22 in Bangkok.
Haggerty, on the other hand, now has not one but two targets on his back after beating Fabricio Andrade last weekend at Lumpinee Stadium.
The 26-year-old has also expressed an interest in making an audacious bid to win the Brazilian’s MMA belt, and become a three-sport champion in ONE.

Chatri had previously suggested Haggerty could face the legendary “Hitman” Liam Harrison in an all-British clash at Wembley, the national stadium of the England football team.
Haggerty appeared open to that idea still, too, with the 38-year-old – who is ranked No 4 in the bantamweight Muay Thai division – set to return from injury in January.
“I feel like he’s got to have a few fights first, see how it goes,” the champ said. “I would love to fight him and I would love to put him away as well.”


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ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Chatri wants Tawanchai vs Jonathan Haggerty ‘mega fight’ at Wembley – ‘it needs to happen’

Chatri Sityodtong with Tawanchai and Jonathan Haggerty at a B2B press event in Bangkok. Photos: ONE Championship

Chatri Sityodtong at the ONE IGNITE event in Bangkok.

Chatri Sityodtong with Jonathan Haggerty,

Jonathan Haggerty stands over Fabricio Andarde after knocking him down.

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Alaverdi Ramazanov confronts Jonathan Haggerty is the ring at ONE Fight Night 16 after the main event. Photos: ONE Championship

Mehdi Zatout lays his gloves down on the canvas after retiring at ONE on Prime Video 3 in October 2022.

Alaverdi Ramazanov speaks in the ring after Jonathan Haggerty’s title win. on 

Jonathan Haggerty during his title celebrations.

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Jonathan Haggerty celebrates after beating Fabricio Andrade. Photos: ONE Championship

Fabricio Andrade looks on in his corner with his coach John Hutchinson (right) after his defeat by Jonathan Haggerty.

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Rui Botelho celebrates after a split decision win over Zhang Peimian. Photos: ONE Championship


Zhang Peimian and Rui Botelho trade punches.

Zhang Peimian lands a kick on Rui Botelho. 

ONE Championship: Jonathan Haggerty tells Rodtang, Superlek and Tawanchai ‘I’ll take your heads off’

Jonathan Haggerty before his bantamweight kickboxing title fight with Fabricio Andrade. Photos: ONE Championship

ONE Championship reschedules Tawanchai vs Superbon for December 22 on ‘biggest Friday Fights card of the year’: source

Tawanchai (left) and Superbon will close out the year at Lumpinee Stadium. Photo: ONE Championship

Tawanchai PK Saenchai is out of hospital after spending a week there with a ‘serious virus’. Photo: Handout

Sport

Martial Arts

Muay Thai

ONE chairman and CEO, who ‘dreams’ of selling out Wembley Stadium, says a clash between the two Muay Thai kings ‘needs to happen’
Featherweight champ Tawanchai tells bantamweight counterpart Haggerty ‘someday, there must be that day’ after face-off in Bangkok


ONE Championship boss, who ‘dreams’ of selling out Wembley Stadium, says clash between two Muay Thai kings ‘needs to happen’.


Superbon