By:  | May 20, 2022 11:49 am

Jonathan Haggerty will not be participating in the flyweight Muay Thai Grand Prix. The Englishman has been forced to withdraw due to ‘health reasons’.

It is not clear exactly what these reasons are but having completed his training camp Haggerty appears to have had issues either making weight or passing the hydration tests. It means the former flyweight Muay Thai champion will not be participating in the ONE Championship Grand Prix at all:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jonathan Haggerty (@jhaggerty_)

Emotional statement

In an emotional statement Haggerty informed his Instagram followers that:

It is with the deepest regret and sadness that I have had to withdraw from the tournament due to health reasons.
Camp had been a very challenging one due to health reasons from the very start, however I truly believed I had overcame them and was back on track and ready to go into this incredible tournament and give it everything I could to win…….
I’d like to send my apologies to Walter Goncalves and wish everybody in the tournament the very best I know you will all put on one hell of a show, without a doubt the best strikers on the planet.
Thank you to ONE Championship for everything you do and the incredible platform you provide taking our sport to the very top. Thank you also for the incredible medical support, making sure I was looked after in the best way possible and putting my health and well-being first, thank you.
Massive thank you to all my sponsors that never fail to help me during my fight camps.
I am profusely sorry to all the fans that I am unable to compete in the world Grand Prix, I am devastated.
I will not let this define me! I will overcome this and be back where I belong.

Replacement fighter

Replacing Haggerty will be Josue Cruz. The Mexican had originally been scheduled to face Panpayak Jitmuangnon but the Thai will no longer be competing on the card.

Cruz will now be facing Walter Goncalves in the quarter finals of the eight man tournament. The winner will face either Superlek Kiatmoo9 or Taiki Naito in the next round.

There were 16 fights on tonight’s ONE 157 card but three of them were scrapped at the last minute. The featherweight kickboxing fight between Rade Opacic and Guto Inocente and the heavyweight fight pitting Marcus Almeida against Hugo Cunha are not going ahead.

In the main event Petchmorakot Petchyindee will defend his featherweight Muay Thai title against Jimmy Vienot at ONE 157. Meanwhile Prajanchay PKSaenchaigym will be making the first defence of his strawweight Muay Thai title against Joseph Lasiri.