Liam Harrison commends Seksan Or Kwanmuang for epic performance at ONE 168: “What a guy”
British Muay Thai icon and former ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title challenger 'Hitman' Liam Harrison of the United Kingdom chose to ride off into the sunset after his latest fight in ONE Championship, and he couldn't have asked for a better opponent to send him into retirement.
Harrison squared off with Thai legend 'The Man Who Yields To No One' Seksan Or Kwanmuang last weekend at ONE 168, which took place before a packed American crowd at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Seksan dominated Harrison, beating the Englishman in the second round via technical knockout after sending him to the canvas three times.
For his part, Harrison tried his best to deliver the punishment, but Seksan just ate it all and hardly flinched.
After the fight, 'Hitman' gave props to Seksan at the official ONE 168: Denver press conference.
Harrison told the media:
"I said to him after the fight as well, ‘Did you feel the altitude’ and he said ‘No.’ Did you feel the body shot? [And he said] It didn’t look like it. What a guy. But I honestly thought I was gonna win this fight, I didn’t see anything past winning and winning in style."
Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action of ONE 168: Denver via replay on demand on Amazon Prime Video.
Liam Harrison admits his chin just isn't what it used to be: "Those shots wouldn't have put me down"
One major factor in Liam Harrison's decision to retire from professional competition at this level is his dwindling ability to absorb damage.
Harrison has always been known as a come-forward, all-action fighter, even if it meant he got hit a lot. But against Seksan at ONE 168: Denver, it was apparent that Harrison was no longer as durable as he once was.
He said:
"Yeah, I'll always get up if I get knocked down. But just a few years ago, those shots wouldn't have put me down. I'd have walked through them. And that's the thing I've got. The heart, in abundance, still. It's just that I haven't got the physical attributes that need to go with that. And if you can't take the damage, which you need to be able to take as much as you can get, I know I just can't anymore."