Calgary bantamweight Jake Peacock faces veteran Thai fighter in Tokyo Muay Thai bout

Calgary bantamweight Jake (The One) Peacock, left, fights Japan's Shinji Suzuki in One Championship Muay Thai action at "One 171: Qatar" in Lusail, Qatar in this Feb. 20, 2025 handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - One Championship (Mandatory Credit)

Calgary bantamweight Jake (The One) Peacock faces his most experienced opponent in his third outing under the One Championship banner.

The 32-year-old from Calgary, who won his first two outings in the promotion, takes on Thailand’s Suakim Sor Jor Tongprajinon in a Muay Thai bout on the undercard of Saturday’s “One 173: Superbon vs. Noiri” card in Tokyo.

Suakim, 30, has a record of 154-59-0 and has won Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai world titles in three separate weight classes. He has won five straight since opening his One Championship career by losing two of his first three fights in the promotion.

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Suakim is willing to take a punch to deliver one.

“Very powerful, very aggressive, he’s got a lot of heart and a lot of experience under his belt,” said Peacock. “So it will be a great test and it’s going to be a firefight, for sure.”

“He’s fought the Who’s Who of the sport … I have a lot of respect for him,” he added. “I’m going to have to give him my best performance.”

The main event at Ariake Arena is a featherweight kickboxing world title unification fight pitting reigning champion Superbon of Thailand against interim title-holder Masaaki Noiri of Japan.

Also on the card, Canada’s Denis (The Bosnian Menace) Puric takes Japan’s Takeru (Natural Born Krusher) Segawa in flyweight kickboxing bout.

Peacock presents a unique challenge.

He was born without a right hand after the amniotic band was wrapped around his arm in the early stages of development, which stopped it from growing. In the ring, he only wears one glove but uses his right arm to deliver elbows and other strikes.

So far, One Championship opponents have been unable to figure him out.

“I’m a puzzle and I change it up every time,” he said with a laugh.

While Peacock is a skilled, technical striker, he expects to show off a different side against Suakim.

“I like to think I’m highly accurate and I don’t like to waste any movements or any energy. But I think I’m going to bring out a bit of the grit in me and I’m going to show him that I’ve got the dog in me as well.”

Peacock is coming off victories over two Japanese fighters, winning a decision over Kohei Shinjo in April 2024 in Bangkok before stopping Shinji Suzuki by third-round TKO last time out in February in Lusail, Qatar.

“It’s the pinnacle of the sport,” he said. “I’m living the dream, I’m super-blessed.”

Peacock started his camp at Calgary’s Dunamis Gym, which he owns with wife Christa, before spending a month preparing in Thailand, complete with Christa and their three kids.

“I’m in a good place mentally, a great place physically as well,” he said. “A fight’s a fight, anything can happen and I have a lot of respect for Suakim. But I am coming and I’m going to be bringing my best. And God’s already written the result so I’ll trust in that and give it my all.”

He believes a good showing Saturday will open the door to bigger fights and a possible world ranking.

Peacock earned his spot with the Asian-based combat sports promoter by winning the Road to One tournament to secure a US$100,000, six-fight contract.

His father, Gavin Peacock, played soccer for 18 years, scoring more than 135 goals for England’s Queens Park Rangers, Chelsea and Newcastle United, among other clubs. He turned to ministry after his playing career, moving to Canada.

Born and raised in London, England, Jake was enrolled in martial arts at the age of seven to learn discipline and self-defence. After moving to Canada at 14, Peacock transitioned to full-contact Kyokushin Karate, eventually moving to Muay Thai and kickboxing.

Peacock wears his Alberta roots proudly, entering and leaving the ring for each fight wearing a cowboy hat.

One’s Muay Thai bouts feature three three-minute rounds (five rounds for a title bout) with fighters wearing four-ounce mixed martial arts gloves. Knockouts can be scored via punch, kick, knee, elbow or legal throw and clinching is allowed.

Kickboxing bouts sees fighter wear boxing gloves with no clinching. Knockouts can be scored via punch, kick or knee.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2025.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press