Jonathan Haggerty Stops Felipe Lobo After Epic War To Retain ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title
Two-sport king Jonathan “The General” Haggerty may have experienced a scary moment early in the headline attraction of ONE Fight Night 19 on February 16, but he ultimately retained his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title in a wild, back-and-forth battle with #3-ranked contender Felipe “Demolition Man” Lobo.
The 26-year-old Brit, who also holds the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship, brought the crowd at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium to its collective feet with a powerful right hand to earn a third-round TKO victory.
The animosity between the two had been brewing ever since Haggerty first claimed the bantamweight Muay Thai belt in April 2023, and that tension made for an unforgettable main event.
After a high-paced start in the opening stanza, the Brazilian powerhouse scored a knockdown late in the first frame with a massive boxing combination.
Lobo attacked the two-sport king with punches to the stomach and head, putting Haggerty on the ropes and forcing the referee to give him a standing eight-count.
Never one to back down from a firefight, “The General” roared back with fearless aggression in the second round to score a knockdown of his own with a gorgeous straight left hand.
In an incredible display of grit and determination, Lobo returned to his feet and walked back into the fray. He unleashed some heavy fire with his fists and nearly sent the titleholder to the canvas in the waning moments of the second frame.
Undeterred, Haggerty opened the third stanza brimming with confidence. The Knowlesy Academy standout stepped forward behind a thunderous right hand that put “Demolition Man” flat on his back, bringing an end to this unforgettable war after 45 seconds of action in round three.
For the Brit, the win comes just three months after he claimed the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title with a victory over Lobo’s teammate, reigning bantamweight MMA kingpin Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade.
With the knockout, Haggerty retained his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship, earned yet another US$50,000 performance bonus, and pushed his career record to 22-4. Also, “The General” has won his last three bouts – all ONE World Title fights – by way of highlight-reel knockout.
Now riding a seven-fight winning streak, the London native has cemented himself as one of the best pound-for-pound strikers on the planet today.