Retirement rarely lasts as legends discover the fire still burns. Liam Harrison proved that truth when he returned to competition after laying down the gloves at ONE 168, and now he’s ready for another comeback.
Harrison takes on Shinji Suzuki in bantamweight kickboxing A Fighting Night 38 on Friday, December 5 live from Bangkok, Thailand in primetime in the US. The 40-year-old British legend makes his kickboxing debut in ONE Championship against the 39-year-old Japanese striker who is looking for consistency after alternating wins and losses.
September 2024 brought an emotional ending for Harrison on ONE 168 in Denver. Seksan Or Kwanmuang stopped him with a series of three knockdowns in the second round, prompting the three-time Muay Thai world champion to place his gloves in the center of the Circle. Twenty-four years of professional fighting seemed over.
But martial arts legends rarely stay away for long. Harrison returned five months later at his own Hitman Fight League 7 event in Manchester, England. He destroyed Isaac Araya with vintage aggression, finishing the Spaniard via leg kicks in round three. That win pushed his record to 92-26 while reigniting his competitive drive.
December represents a new challenge for the Bad Company product. When you move from the four-ounce Muay Thai gloves to the larger mitts of kickboxing, everything changes in terms of range, timing and defensive responsibility. Harrison’s signature pressure and power must adapt to different rules and equipment.
Suzuki brings his own motivations to Friday’s clash. The Fujimakick Muay Thai Gym representative earned his contract through the 2022 Road to ONE: Japan tournament but has not found consistent momentum. His debut knockout loss to Suablack Tor Pran49 in September 2023 laid a rocky foundation.
Redemption came in March 2024 against Han Zi Hao. But Jake Peacock put an end to that momentum at ONE 171: Qatar last February, stopping the Japanese veteran with punches in the third round. Now Suzuki faces another crossroads against someone equally desperate for victory.
Liam Harrison is looking to repeat the comeback magic of the gig in 2022
Comeback wins define Liam Harrison’s ONE Championship legacy more than any other fighter. His April 2022 masterpiece against Muangthai PK Saenchai showed exactly why legends never really fade.
That breathtaking come-from-behind knockout against ‘Elbow Zombie’ demonstrated Harrison’s refusal to accept defeat. The finish wowed the Bangkok crowd and reminded everyone why three decades of competition had forged his reputation. December offers another opportunity to capture similar magic under different conditions.
Both veterans understand that career paths are balanced. Harrison wants to prove that his WBC Diamond Belt victory over Araya was not a final flourish, but rather proof that he still belongs in elite competition. Suzuki needs consistency after three ONE appearances yielded mixed results.
Neither fighter built his reputation on caution. Harrison’s aggressive style delivers spectacular finishes or devastating defeats with little middle ground. Suzuki similarly fully commits to exchanges, creating the kind of fight that leaves the audience breathless regardless of the outcome.
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