Jonathan Haggerty Commends Nico Carrillo For Career-Defining Win Over Nong-O: “He Dug Deep”

Every win in Muay Thai comes at a cost of sweat, blood, and glory. Lately, the spotlight illuminated Scottish Muay Thai wonder Nico Carrillo, nicknamed The King of North, after he stunned legendary fighter Mr.Nong-O Gaiyanghadao with one awesome punch. Carrillo’s win significantly turned his career around by placing him on the main stage of the ONE Championship arena.

Almost eight months before Carrillo made history, it was Jonathan Haggerty who had already given himself a place in the Muay Thai Hall of Fame. Not least of all, Haggerty stood as a two-sport ONE world champion from the UK himself, who had just secured a career-defining victory over none other than NongO Gaiyanghadao, and pocketed the bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship in the process.

Recalling Carrillo’s heroic performance, Haggerty gave him a tribute for his stamina and spirit. Said Haggerty, “He did what he had to do,” in recognition of Carrillo’s resilience. It was wonderful, you see. He’s a fighter, you know. He’s done what he needed to do; good for him,” Haggerty continued in praise of Carrillo’s courage and determination.

Carrillo’s journey to victory was not devoid of hurdles. In the setting of Nong-O’s threatening leg kicks, Carrillo endured pain before finally standing up for a comeback that peaked in a conclusive knockout win. Haggerty, having directly felt the fury of Nong-O’s hits, understood how great Carrillo’s accomplishment was. Though it looks like I almost got stopped, another 10 seconds would have been the end of the fight, but he obviously dove deep inside himself.

With the dust settled on Carrillo’s historic victory, discussion rose about a possible showdown between two Muay Thai giants—Jonathan Haggerty and Nico Carrillo. The idea of these two giants clashing in the ring fired up fight fanatics from all corners. Having supremely talented competitors also inflicted with hunger for victory, the stage was ready to witness an epicsquash of champions.

Nevertheless, before the idea of the Haggerty-Carrillo battle could spring to life, there was business in front of Haggerty. Following the announcement of his next title defence against Brazilian striker Felipe ‘Demolition Man’ Lobo, Haggerty set aside any distractions, focusing on what needed to be done. After capturing his first ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title in July 2019, Haggerty was ready to once again step into the limelight and defend his crown.

The game with Lobo was going to be exciting, as it featured two of the best finishers straining their muscles in search of goals. Lobo is a three-time winner in the ONE Championship, and he also previously tried himself with gold; hence, all conditions were created for a confrontation of titans. Unphased by the task that lay ahead, Haggerty relished his chance to display his talents under lights in Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.

As the clock ticked down to ONE Fight Night 19, tensions built. Fight enthusiasts impatiently waited for the match between Haggerty and Lobo, hoping to see a historical moment. With the occurrence aired live on US Primetime on February 16, everyone was faded and waited to see a match of the Muay Thai Pinnacle competition.

Amidst the excitement surrounding Haggerty’s upcoming title defence, there was always a ghost of a match between Haggerty and Carrillo that weighed on everything. As two of the most luminous stars of Muay Thai, there was much excitement amongst fight fans worldwide when these warriors crossed paths in 2014. The Mount Olympus of sport was thus ready for a battle between two diamonds in the rough.

They don’t seem tired of continuing the bad trend of escaping from their one-foot takedown. I mean, those creep fans must know better than a cheapscate if they can learn anything else about wrestling, Muay Thai, or karate, for that matter. They made indestructible achievements with each victory, and now their names are written in the golden book of history, fighting for life.

While Haggerty, Carrillo, and millions of others kept on dreaming as they journeyed along a road paved with gold glamour, at its end, the world stood in reverence before this modern gladiator’s ‘Battle Royale’. As they marched to their grim doom, these legends could only face whatever the future would bring them: champions were declared and histories written; legacies secured for generations yet unborn were kept together as one in Muay Thai.