Doha, Qatar: There’s a lot that comes with being a big brother, including having a certain amount of responsibility to your younger siblings. In other words, you have to set a solid example.
For ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty, he knows all too well about filling that role. The British star has been the guiding light for his younger brother Freddie Haggerty both in and outside the ring.
On Thursday, February 20, inside Lusail Sports Arena, he’ll look to continue illuminating the path when he defends his kickboxing crown against #1-ranked contender Wei Rui at ONE 171: Qatar.
Family has always been a constant in Haggerty’s life. Having grown up in a close-knit unit with a martial artist for a father, it was inevitable what he’d do and who he’d become.
Even until now, breaking away from that aspect of his life has been impossible. Haggerty is a family man through and through. Most notably, after losing his uncle last year, his need for his family’s presence had never been more prominent.
“I was looking into moving to Thailand permanently, but [family] has made me realize I need to be at home for a little bit now. I’m a bit isolated in Thailand, just me and my girlfriend,” he said.
“But I want my family around me. We’ve had people close to us have babies, so it’s only right that we spend time with our families.”
Reaching the ONE Championship mountaintop was always a dream for Haggerty. It’s a peak that few people ever summit. But for “The General,” showing his younger sibling that anything is possible through hard work and perseverance is crucial.
Given his success in the world’s largest martial arts organization, he was bound to hold his brother to the highest standards. It’s one thing to coach your students, but it’s a different thing altogether to give advice to your flesh and blood.
So far, those lessons have paid dividends. Although Freddie lost his last fight at ONE 170 in January, he gained a legion of new fans thanks to the heart he showed in the waning moments of his bout against Jordan Estupinan.
Coupled with the fact that he amassed three knockouts in three performances in 2024, Jonathan sees his little brother going from a promising protege to a world-class prospect.
“I’ve been there and done it for years now in ONE. He’s coming up, he’s knocking lads out, and he’s smashing it so far. I’m helping him as much as possible,” Haggerty said.
Because of this, the Haggerty name reverberates loudly in the combat sports world. That’s why Jonathan has been there every step of the way as he and his brother go through this journey together.
“[Freddie’s] happy to be here in ONE and he’s happy to take it all in,” he said. “I think he’s just buzzing to be in the big league.
“I’m so proud of him, seeing him weigh in and do photoshoots and stuff. I look at him as a proud brother, and I can only guide him the best that I can.”
