Exclusive | ONE Championship: Jonathan Haggerty off Prime Video 1 card with illness, prompting line-up change
- Haggerty drops out at late notice with undisclosed medical issue for second fight in a row; Muay Thai Grand Prix alternate bout vs Amir Naseri scratched
- Panpayak’s clash with Sherzod Kabutov moves over from Friday’s ONE 160 card to Saturday morning’s event at Singapore Indoor Stadium
Jonathan Haggerty has dropped off a second straight ONE Championship card at late notice because of illness, a source has told the Post.
The 25-year-old Englishman was set to compete in an alternate bout for the flyweight Muay Thai Grand Prix on Saturday morning’s ONE on Prime Video 1 card in Singapore.
This time former champion Haggerty was set to face Malaysia’s Amir Naseri on the lead card portion of the martial arts promotion’s debut on Amazon’s streaming service, which will air in prime time in the US on August 26.
The bout’s removal has prompted a reshuffle, with Panpayak Jitmuangnon’s alternate clash against Sherzod Kabutov moved over from Friday night’s ONE 160 event.
ONE is staging a double header of back-to-back events at Singapore Indoor Stadium this weekend.
Friday’s ONE 160 card will be headlined by a lightweight MMA title rematch between champ South Korean champ Ok Rae-yoon and Christian Lee. Featherweight MMA champ Thanh Le will also defend his title against Chinese challenger Tang Kai.
ONE: Haggerty backs Harrison to beat Nong-O, but ‘it’s going to be tough’
ONE on Prime Video 1 the following morning will be headlined by a blockbuster rematch between flyweight MMA champ Adriano Moraes and the legendary Demetrious Johnson.
The Amazon debut will also feature the Grand Prix semi-finals, as well as a bantamweight Muay Thai title bout between champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao and British veteran Liam Harrison.
The Post reported in May that Haggerty had been replaced by Josue Cruz against Walter Goncalves at ONE 157 in Singapore. He felt unwell and was not medically cleared to compete.
Haggerty later said on Friday morning he was “devastated” he had to withdraw from the tournament, but did not expand on his ailment.
“Camp had been a very challenging one due to health reasons from the very start,” he wrote on Instagram, alongside of picture of him in a hospital bed.
“However I truly believed I had overcame them and was back on track and ready to go into this incredible tournament and give it everything I could to win.
“I’d like to send my apologies to Walter Goncalves and wish everybody in the tournament the very best. I know you will all put on one hell of a show, without a doubt the best strikers on the planet.”
Haggerty was discharged from hospital the next morning. “I will be back stronger, believe me,” he said in an Instagram post.
