Jake Peacock is promising to ‘break the will’ of Suakim when they meet in Tokyo – and send the Thai veteran home early.
The English-Canadian striker faces the biggest test of his career at ONE 173 on November 16, as he looks to climb into world title contention in the bantamweight Muay Thai ranks.
‘It’s gonna be a big test, against a great opponent,’ Peacock told the Bangkok Post from Koh Samui, where he is putting the finishing touches on his camp at the Superpro gym.
‘I’ve got a lot of respect for Suakim and his team and what he’s done. Nothing but respect – which means I’ll be training harder than ever before and more focused than ever before. I’ll bring my A-game – I have to. Expect nothing but a violent show.’
That violence, he hopes, will come swiftly. ‘It’s a recipe for disaster,’ he said with a grin. ‘I’m gonna do my best to end the fight early so everyone back home can go to bed. Keep it short for them.’
For Peacock, the son of former Premier League footballer Gavin Peacock, Tokyo represents both a step up in class and a homecoming of sorts. He fought there at 18 in Kyokushin karate – losing to the eventual tournament champion – and now returns nearly a decade later on one of the biggest cards in ONE Championship history.
‘Technically my toughest test, physically he’s definitely up there,’ Peacock said. ‘He’s got the most experience by far, he’s very tough, got a lot of heart and he’s well-rounded. Probably one of the toughest if not the toughest.’
The 32-year-old watched Suakim’s bloody war with Zafer Sayik earlier this summer and came away both impressed and motivated.
‘I watched that fight – it just shows you how tough he is,’ he said. ‘He broke his orbital early and kept coming forward. The more he gets hurt the more he comes forward, so you’ve got to put him away. Expect a finish, because otherwise he’s gonna keep coming.’
That Kyokushin mentality – ‘break the will, not the bones,’ as he calls it – underpins Peacock’s approach.
‘Kyokushin really conditions your body,’ he said. ‘You can adapt to different styles of kicks and bring it into Muay Thai, but the biggest thing is the heart and conditioning it instills in you. The whole concept is to break the will of your opponent. I’m not out here to break bones, I’m out here to break wills – I’m gonna be the last man standing, no matter what.’
That inner toughness runs deeper than most realise. Born with one arm ending just below the elbow, Peacock has never looked for sympathy – only opportunity. His fluid, one-handed guard and explosive kicking game have become symbols of his adaptability, not limitation.
While the stakes are high, the setting has been far from austere.
Peacock has based himself in Koh Samui with his wife and children, training twice a day while juggling family chaos at the villa.
‘We flew into Bangkok from Canada for six days, showed the wife and kids the city, then flew to Koh Samui,’ he said. ‘It’s been wicked, it’s a dream – like we’re on a movie set. They’re running around, I love it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.’
Even his son Charlie has joined the action, following him to strength and conditioning sessions and padwork. ‘He loves it,’ Peacock said proudly. ‘They’ve never come on a trip this far with me.’
The mix of family and focus, he admits, has added something new to this camp. ‘It’s a good setup – a nice house with a pool, beach seven minutes away, gym five minutes away,’ he said. ‘I’m right up there. I’m ready for him.’
And when the bell rings at Ariake Arena, Peacock says fans can expect nothing less than fire. ‘Neither of us are gonna back down,’ he said. ‘We’re both gonna bring the heat and it’ll be a banger.’