ONE 171: Wei Rui vows to give Jonathan Haggerty kickboxing lesson, will ‘take belt as payment’
Wei aiming to become the first Chinese fighter to claim a ONE kickboxing world title
Chinese striking sensation Wei Rui believes his time has come and has made his intentions clear ahead of battling Jonathan Haggerty for the ONE bantamweight kickboxing title in Qatar on Thursday.
The pair will be the last to clash at ONE 171, and Wei said he would take “the belt as payment” for the kickboxing lesson he planned to hand out.
A former K-1 champion and WLF title-holder, Wei arrives in Doha riding an extraordinary 21-fight winning streak.
His most recent victory, a unanimous decision over former ONE champion Hiroki Akimoto in May 2024, solidified his status as the division’s top-ranked contender. Now, he is eager to become the first Chinese fighter to claim a ONE kickboxing world title.
“This winning momentum gives me more power. More power and more confidence to win this fight,” said the in-form fighter, whose nickname is “Demon Blade.”
For Haggerty, this fight represents both an opportunity and a challenge. The British superstar has already carved out an impressive legacy, holding the bantamweight Muay Thai title and briefly reigning as a two-sport champion.