Jonathan Haggerty says Superlek’s decision to arrive in Denver a week before ONE 168 “will hit him like a ton of bricks”
Jonathan Haggerty and Superlek Kiatmoo9's preparations for their world title clash at ONE 168: Denver couldn't have been any more different.
The two-sport king will defend his ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title against Superlek, the ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion, in the card's main event on Friday at Ball Arena.
While Haggerty decided to stay and train in Denver almost a month before their fight, Superlek stuck around in Thailand and only flew to the 'Mile High City' at the start of fight week.
In an interview with ONE Championship, Haggerty said Superlek's decision to leave for Denver at such a late time could prove costly once fight night.
Jonathan Haggerty, who also holds the ONE bantamweight kickboxing world title, said:
"I don't think it's a good idea. And him having that extra weight, he's not going to be used to it. On top of that, the elevation and the altitude. It will hit him like a ton of bricks."
Denver sits at an altitude of 1,609 meters, and this elevation has always been an issue for athletes, especially fighters, competing in the city.
This environment forced Haggerty to leave Thailand early, fly out to Denver nearly a month before ONE 168, and try to acclimate to the city's unforgiving altitude and thin air.
Haggerty has since maintained that he's already in tune with the city's elevation and believes he is in peak shape to face off against Superlek.
Jonathan Haggerty says he's prepared for whatever Superlek throws at him
Superlek is one of the best pound-for-pound strikers on the planet and can change his pace on a dime.
From careful to aggressive, Superlek can quickly shift gears during fights, but Jonathan Haggerty isn't all that bothered.
In an interview with InsideFighting, Haggerty said he has what it takes to counter whatever Superlek throws at him.
Haggerty added that his natural power at bantamweight would also be his advantage once he gets locked inside the cage against Superlek:
"We know he's gonna throw the kitchen sink at us. But we're prepared for the fight, for sure. Always ready for this fight at this point. Besides being ready, yeah, the power at bantamweight has just given me the confidence really to be able to beat anyone. So it's gonna be the same mindset for this one."
Watch Haggerty's entire interview below: