"I was literally on the verge of pulling out" - Jonathan Haggerty admits he wasn't at his best against Felipe Lobo
Two-sport bantamweight world champion Jonathan Haggerty had to dig deep to successfully defend his Muay Thai crown against Felipe Lobo last February.
Turns out, 'The General' was already facing adversity even before the match began. It got so bad that he considered bowing out of the match entirely.
In a clip posted on his YouTube page, Haggerty revealed he dealt with some serious injuries prior to his ONE Fight Night 19 showdown with 'Demolition Man':
"I'll let you guys know, this was probably the worst camp I've had. I had a bad hand. I couldn't punch for three weeks. My feet were severely burned at the bottom. I couldn't run, I couldn't really lose any weight. I was literally on the verge of pulling out two weeks before this fight."
However, Jonathan Haggerty's warrior spirit pushed him through. He simply bit his mouthpiece and did what he was put on this earth to do. The British megastar added:
"I wasn't ready at all. No excuses, but yeah, I wasn't ready. But as a fighter, it was up to me to go and defend my belt."
True to his promise, the king rose to the occasion and survived an early knockout scare. Haggerty rose like a phoenix and delivered one of the most stunning comeback victories we've ever seen.
Watch the full 'Retrospect with Jonathan Haggerty' clip:
Jonathan Haggerty will look to bring the same undying spirit against Superlek
Jonathan Haggerty already proved he can not only dish heavy damage but also take some in return.
His grit and determination will be tested like never before at ONE 168: Denver, against his next bantamweight Muay Thai challenger Superlek Kiatmoo9.
Speaking in part two of his Road to Superlek vlog, 'The General' vowed to even the score against his tormentor.
"I got a point to prove. He's got a point to prove. But I've got revenge on my mind. I'm looking forward to see how he copes."
Tickets for ONE 168: Denver on September 6 at Ball Arena are available via Ticketmaster.