Jonathan Haggerty experienced exactly that reality when Superlek flattened him in the first round nine months ago, stripping away his Muay Thai crown and forcing a complete reassessment of his approach.
At ONE 173 on November 16 in Tokyo, the former champion gets his first chance to reclaim what Superlek took from him. But he’ll have to go through the young lion who conquered that same Thai legend.
Nabil Anane represents everything dangerous about Muay Thai fighters. At 21, the towering Algerian-Thai has already transformed early career adversity into gold, showing the type of resilience that separates contenders from champions. His path to the title reads like a masterclass in learning from defeat.
Anane’s promotional debut loss to Superlek could have derailed lesser athletes. Instead, it became the foundation for six consecutive victories that culminated in his knockout of Nico Carrillo for interim gold. That performance announced his arrival as a legitimate title threat, but his rematch victory over Superlek validated his credentials.
“The General” brings different motivations to this contest. His shocking defeat to Superlek ended a ONE world title reign that had established him as one of the sport’s biggest stars. The knockout was so sudden and decisive that it raised questions about his ability to compete at the highest level.
But Haggerty’s resume spans multiple disciplines and includes victories over legends like Nong-O Hama and quality competition across two weight classes. His knockout of Nong-O remains one of the most impressive title-winning performances in recent memory, showcasing the boxing skills that make him dangerous for any opponent.
The tactical dynamics in this upcoming fight create fascinating possibilities. Anane’s height advantage and technical precision contrast with Haggerty’s explosive boxing and experience. The young champion has shown ability to adapt during contests, while the former titleholder carries the pressure of proving his knockout loss was an aberration rather than a sign of decline.
For Anane, this represents the ultimate validation opportunity. Defeating a former champion of Haggerty’s caliber would establish his credentials beyond question and prove his victory over Superlek wasn’t circumstantial.
Champions often face their most dangerous tests in early title defenses, where their reign’s legitimacy gets questioned by elite challengers. On the other hand, Haggerty’s recent ONE bantamweight kickboxing world title defense over Wei Rui showed he maintains elite-level skills despite the Superlek setback.
His ability to perform under pressure remains intact, and his experience in high-stakes contests could prove decisive against a young titleholder still establishing his identity.
