Inspirational limb-different fighter Jake Peacock returns to action on February 20 when he takes on Shinji Suzuki at the Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar.
Suzuki and Peacock were originally due to face each other in November but the bout was postponed when that bill was rescheduled. Their Muay Thai bout will now be held on the same bill as the Jonathan Haggerty vs Wei Rui ONE bantamweight kickboxing world title fight, live on Sky Sports.
Peacock is missing his right hand and forearm. But he is out to prove himself a world class Muay Thai practitioner, after winning his ONE Championship debut in style in April.
“I told you it was going to be a spectacular showing and a debut to watch and it sure was. I was very happy with the performance. I enjoyed myself. I probably enjoyed myself a little bit too much,” Peacock told Sky Sports.
“I was loving every moment of it.
Jake Peacock has spoken of his desire to ‘inspire’ people through his journey in sport (Pic: ONE)
“I’m at the pinnacle of the sport and I just wanted to soak it all in.
“I wanted to enjoy every minute of it and I did.”
But he intends to deliver a devastating showing against Suzuki.
“Mark my words, this next fight, it’s got to be business. I’ve got to go in there, I’m going to put this guy away within two rounds. I’m going to grab the mic and I’m going to ask for a top 10 name,” he said.
“He’s beat some decent guys. His last opponent was Han Zi Hao who’s been in there with everyone.
“I respect him. I respect his skill. I respect anyone that I’m going to come up against. But I think I’m on a different level to him. I think it’s going to be visible right away in the fight.
“I need to go in there and make a statement, silence all the doubters out there and move on.”
Peacock’s performances, as someone who is only able to fight with one hand, send a message in themselves.
“I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, proving people wrong, proving the doubters wrong and inspiring others,” he said.
Jake Peacock is training for another step up (Pic: ONE)
“I get lots and lots of messages all the time from people around the world that are experiencing hardships in their life, or do have a missing limb or some sort of battle that they’re going through, encouraging messages that I’m giving them the strength to push on and I’m inspiring them and motivating them.”
Carrillo gets Interim title fight
Scotland’s Nico Carrillo will fight next on January 24 at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, live on Sky Sports.
He was due to box Superlek Kiatmoo9, until a knee injury forced the Thai off the card.
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Watch highlights of Nico ‘King of the North’ Carrillo impressive TKO win over Saemapetch Fairtex in their bantamweight Muay Thai clash.
Carrillo will now fight rising star Nabil Anane for the ONE Interim bantamweight Muay Thai world title.
The winner will then face Superlek for the full world title at Saitama Super Arena in Japan on March 23.