Calgary bantamweight Jake (The One) Peacock returns to action in November in Tokyo
Suakim, who turns 30 on Friday, has a record of 154-59-0 and has won five straight since opening his One Championship career by losing two of his first three fights in the promotion.
Peacock 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.
The 32-year-old from Calgary 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.
He has won both of his fights in the promotion to date, defeating a pair of Japanese fighters. He won a decision over Kohei Shinjo in April 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, and stopped Shinji Suzuki by third-round TKO last time out in February in Lusail, Qatar.
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.
The main event at Ariake Arena feature's Thailand's Superbon against Japan's Masaaki Noiri in a featherweight kick-boxing world title unification match. Superbon currently holds the title while Noiri is the interim champion.
After winning and losing the featherweight crown, Superbon won the interim title by defeating Armenian-Belgian Marat Grigorian in April 2024 and was elevated to undisputed champion in January due to Azerbaijani-Belarusian title-holder Chingiz (Chinga) Allazov's inactivity.
Noiri defeated Thailand's Tawanchai PK Saenchai in March to claim the interim title.
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.
Married with two kids, Peacock is also the founder and head coach at Calgary's Dunamis Gym which he owns with his wife
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 kick-boxing.
—
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘It's nice to get it done'
Todd Fanning left the door open momentarily, then promptly slammed it shut. Leading by two strokes in the final round of the Golf Manitoba Hodson Financial senior men's championship with two holes to play, Fanning dumped his approach shot into the water on the 17th hole at Glendale Golf and Country Club. Rather than compound the rare mistake by showing any frustration, Fanning calmly identified the point of entry, dropped his ball and made a precise chip to about 18 feet. With playing partner and nearest competitor, Dan Scanlon, waiting to try and roll in a short putt for birdie, Fanning avoided a two-shot swing by confidently draining his par saver. 'That was the one,' said Fanning, who carded an even-par 72 to finish the event at 2-under 214 to earn a four-shot victory over Scanlon. 'He's looking at a four-footer for birdie — and he had gone birdie and par on the last two holes and I was in trouble. For that one to go in, it probably took the air out of his balloon — even though he made a birdie. A two-shot lead is a lot different than one.' BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Todd Fanning added the Manitoba men's senior title to his long list of golf accomplishments. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Todd Fanning added the Manitoba men's senior title to his long list of golf accomplishments. There was an element of grinding to Fanning's game, as he needed 20 putts on the front nine for an even-par 36, but his trademark feel on the greens improved at the turn. 'I was a bit jittery, but on the 10th hole I made a 15-foot putt and after that, I settled down,' said Fanning. 'It's nice not to shoot over par in any of my rounds. Today was by far the best I hit the ball. 'The last three holes kind of got away from me, but it's hard not to peak at the finish line before you get there. You hear the guys on tour say it — and it's true. It's hard to win a golf tournament.' With the victory, Manitoba's most-decorated golfer added a new trophy to his lengthy list of accomplishments. Not only did Fanning capture his first Manitoba senior title, this victory allowed him to complete a career grand slam: with championships in the Manitoba junior (1984, 1985), the Manitoba men's amateur (1984, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 2014) and the Manitoba men's mid-amateur (2017, 2021). 'As I turned 55, I started thinking about the grand slam and it's nice to finish it off. Now I've won them all.'–Todd Fanning Fanning is the first Manitoban to achieve the feat. 'As I turned 55, I started thinking about the grand slam and it's nice to finish it off. Now I've won them all,' said Fanning. 'I had a couple of seconds (in the Manitoba senior in 2023 and 2025). The third time's the charm, I guess. 'I've played against these guys for most of my career and it's nice to get it done against your peers.' and the former touring pro is already looking ahead to his next goal — as Niakawa Country Club is hosting the Canadian senior men's amateur championship next summer. After winning the Canadian junior championship in 1985 and 1986, Fanning delivered Canadian mid-amateur and mid-masters championships in 2017. So yes, working his way into the winner's circle with another national crown is on Fanning's wish list. 'You're at your home course, in your home province and I want my game to be tidy for next year,' said Fanning, who played professionally between 1993 and 2003 and regained his amateur status in 2008. 'That will be my best shot. I've played twice (in the Canadian senior) and I've played well, with a 12th and a ninth. But I really feel like next year, if I have my game in order — with the local knowledge, that will be the one that I'm shooting towards.' Ken Warwick of Niakawa won the super senior championship by shooting 73 in the final round to give him a three-round total of 224, which was enough for a two-stroke victory over Mike Walker of St. Boniface. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Rhonda Orr won her 12th Manitoba women's seniors title. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Rhonda Orr won her 12th Manitoba women's seniors title. On the women's side, Rhonda Orr of Southwood shot a final round of 4-over 76 to capture her 10th consecutive Manitoba women's senior championship by 20 strokes over Cathy Derawianchuk of Glendale, with Shannon Taweel of Elmhurst finishing third. It's the 12th Manitoba senior women's title for Orr, who also won the super senior championship. 'I felt a little bit of pressure. Going for 10 in a row has been a goal and the course was playing pretty tough,' said Orr. 'It seems kind of surreal when I take the time to look back (at the 12 provincial championships). When you look at how many it's been and all of the different courses and all of the different people that you've played (with). 'It's kind of weird, actually. But I feel like my game is okay. I can still compete and I hope to keep it going.' When it comes to the old adage that winning never gets old, Orr confirmed it's actually the case. 'One hundred per cent,' she said. 'Every time you go out, you want to do your best. It just feels good to take a trophy home.' Orr entered the day with a sizable lead, but didn't alter her mindset. 'I'm generally going to play a conservative strategy, but with a confident swing. That's how you want to play,' said Orr, who only started golf regularly when she was around 40 years old after a lengthy career as a softball player. 'Pick a nice target and make sure that you make a nice confident swing towards it. Try not to do anything stupid. There are definitely a few holes out here where you can take a (big) number. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'My wedge game was great today and I drove the ball pretty well.' Orr also weighed in on the size of the field of just 12 players (11 after one player withdrew after the first round) on the women's side, urging players from around the province to heed the call to compete in the event next season and beyond. 'I played with a couple of people that haven't played in the senior before and it's nice to have some new people coming out and learning to enjoy competitive golf,' said Orr. 'What I would say to them is, 'Don't be worried about shooting a bad score or a bad score on a hole. You have to put yourself out there, to prove to yourself that you can do it. And it doesn't really matter what other people think or what other people say.' 'There's no golf like tournament golf. It's different and it can be stressful, but we've got to learn to just manage through it. There are a ton of really great golfers who don't quite want to put themselves out there, but it's OK (to put yourself out there).' The Canadian senior women's championship is scheduled for Naninamo Golf Club in B.C. from Aug. 26 to 28, while the Canadian men's senior championship is set for Sept. 8 to 12 at KenWo Golf Club in Nova Scotia. X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Japan Forward
9 hours ago
- Japan Forward
Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan's Greatest Goalscorer, Dies at 81
On the global stage and in the Japan Soccer League, Kunishige Kamamoto excelled. Playing for the national team, he scored 75 goals in 76 matches. Japan's Kunishige Kamamoto competes against Spain at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Kamamoto scored a hat trick in Japan's 3-1 group stage victory. (©SANKEI) Kunishige Kamamoto, a prolific goalscorer in the 1960s, '70s and early '80s, died on Sunday, August 10 of pneumonia at an Osaka hospital. He was 81. Playing for the Japan national team at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Kamamoto was the tournament's top scorer (seven goals). He helped Japan earn the bronze medal, its best-ever finish in an Olympic men's soccer tourney. Brazilian legend Pele, who passed away in December 2022, once called Kamamoto "a great striker." It was the ultimate compliment for the Kyoto native. Others have described Kamamoto as "Japan's goal machine." Kunishige Kamamoto in action at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. He was the tournament's leading scorer with seven goals. (©SANKEI) Kamamoto scored 75 goals in 76 Japan national team matches between 1964 (he made his debut at the Tokyo Olympics) and '77. To this day, he is Japan's all-time leading scorer. A Canadian Broadcasting Corporation article from 2005, "Top 10 Japanese Athletes," opined that Kamamoto's place in the pecking order of his chosen sport in his homeland was indisputable. "Unquestionably, [he was] the greatest Japanese soccer player of all time," the CBC declared. Beyond his impressive statistics, Asian Football Confederation President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa recognizes Kamamoto as an inspirational figure. He called Kamamoto "a true icon of Asian football whose achievements will forever be remembered." The AFC chief added, "[Kamamoto's] role in leading Japan to the bronze medal at the 1968 Olympic Games inspired generations and elevated the profile of the beautiful game across the continent." Yanmar Diesel Soccer Club's Kunishige Kamamoto scores the winning goal against Eidai Soccer Club in a Japan Soccer League match in December 1974. (©SANKEI) Kamamoto was a seven-time Japanese Football Player of the Year. In 2005, he was the first inductee of the Japan Football Hall of Fame, which was established that year. Kamamoto played his entire pro career for the Yanmar Diesel Soccer Club, the forerunner of the Cerezo Osaka, in the Japan Soccer League from 1967-84. And he was named to the JSL's Best XI team 14 times, highlighting his sustained standard of excellence. In his 251 Yanmar Diesel appearances in the JSL, the Waseda University alum scored a jaw-dropping 202 goals while leading the JSL in goals in seven seasons. He also notched 51 goals in 48 Emperor's Cup matches over the years. Led by Pele and Giorgio Chinaglia, among others, the North American Soccer League's star-studded New York Cosmos played the Japan national squad in September 1977. A crowd of 65,000 spectators attended the exhibition match at the old National Stadium in Tokyo. After the game, which the Cosmos won 3-1, Pele gave Kamamoto an unforgettable present: his spiked shoes worn in the match. Japanese legend Kunishige Kamamoto is carried off the field by Pele (center) and Wolfgang Overath after his retirement match on August 25, 1984, at Tokyo's National Stadium. (ⒸSANKEI) Shaikh Salman offered condolences in the aftermath of Kamamoto's death. "On behalf of the Asian football family, I extend our heartfelt sympathies to his loved ones, friends, and the Japan Football Association during this time of grieving, and I am confident that his legacy will continue to inspire and his contribution to the game will never be forgotten," Shaikh Salman said in a written tribute posted on the AFC website. "The thoughts and prayers of the AFC and the Asian football community are with the family and friends of Kunishige Kamamoto, as well as with the JFA, during this difficult time." Influential German mentor Dettmar Cramer (left), who is considered the father of modern Japanese soccer, and Kunishige Kamamoto attend a Japan Football Hall of Fame ceremony in May 2005 in Tokyo. (©SANKEI) Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto paid tribute to Kamamoto this week. "Mr Kamamoto was truly an unparalleled striker," Miyamoto said in a statement. In a video posted to the "Timeless Legends" YouTube channel, the narrator provides a revealing portrait of how Kamamoto thrived on the field. "Inspired by Portugal's legendary Eusebio, a thunderous shot, quick movement and a killer instinct for goals ― he had it all," the narrator said. Hajime Moriyasu, manager of the Samurai Blue, aka the national team, described Kamamoto as a player whose impact went far beyond the final score during any match. Rather, Kamamoto "gave us a ray of hope that Japanese football can compete on the international stage," Moriyasu was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "I'm hoping for a player who could eventually eclipse Mr Kamamoto to emerge," he added. Kozo Tashima, the JFA's honorary president and its former president (2016-24), said Kamamoto set the standard of greatness for Japanese goalscorers. In Osaka, a wake and a funeral were held for Kamamoto on Wednesday, August 13. According to published reports, 170 people attended the funeral. Tashima delivered a eulogy for Kamamoto. "Looking back on the long history of Japanese soccer, unfortunately there is no other striker who can compete on equal terms with the world," Tashima said, according to NHK. "My eulogy was meant to express my gratitude for the great legacy he left behind in the world of soccer." Tashima added, "There was no one who loved soccer and the Japanese national team as much as he did. I want to carry on that spirit and fully support the players and coaches at next year's [FIFA] World Cup." Kunishige Kamamoto scored 202 times in 251 matches for Yanmar Diesel in the Japan Soccer League. (©SANKEI) Goalkeeper Kenzo Yokoyama, who competed with Kamamoto at the Mexico City Olympics, remembered his former teammate as a technically sound player. "He always emphasized how important it was to stop the ball before shooting, and he practiced that technique extensively," Yokoyama recalled, NHK reported. "I was also trained by receiving hundreds of his shots." chairman Yoshikazu Nonomura expressed his profound appreciation for the impact that Kamamoto had on his soccer career and the sport in Japan. "I have been taught by Pele, [Diego] Maradona, Zico and Kamamoto since I was a child, and I am extremely grateful to them," Nonomura said, according to NHK. "Kamamoto's presence as a player and coach has played a major role in shaping the soccer world as we know it today. I would like to continue to develop the soccer world that he helped build." Born April 15, 1944 in Kyoto's Ukyo Ward, Kunishige Kamamoto attended Yamashiro High School before enrolling at Waseda University in 1963. During Kamamoto's college years, he established himself as a prolific scorer. He was the Kanto University League's No 1 scorer for four consecutive seasons. As a professional footballer for Yanmar Diesel, the muscular 179-cm Kamamoto served as player-manager from 1978-84. Gamba Osaka manager Kunishige Kamamoto (right) gives instructions to forward Akihiro Nagashima in May 1993. (©SANKEI) From 1991-94, he was the manager of Matsushita Electric/Gamba Osaka, before and after the launch of the in 1993. Gamba became a part of the team's name in '92. Throughout the years following his retirement, Kamamoto helped develop the sport in his homeland. He conducted more than 1,200 soccer clinics in Japan, Kyodo News reported. He was the JFA vice president from 1998-2008, a transformative era for Japanese soccer. The Samurai Blue qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 1998, and Japan co-hosted the World Cup along with South Korea in 2002. Kunishige Kamamoto (18) and Hidetoshi Nakata participate in an exhibition game, the Plus One Football Match, in June 2008 at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama. (KYODO) As a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, Kamamoto served in the House of Councillors from 1995 to 2001. And in 2014, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, recognizing his societal contributions through soccer. Yanmar's Kunishige Kamamoto (left) pursues the ball in a Japan Soccer League match against Hitachi in December 1971. (©SANKEI) Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
Winnipeg Free Press
10 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime advances to Cincinnati Open quarterfinals
CINCINNATI – Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime is through to the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals after a fourth-round win over Benjamin Bonzi of France. Auger-Aliassime rode his powerful serve to a 6-4, 6-3 victory on Wednesday, firing nine aces across the one-hour, 14-minute match. The 25-year-old from Montreal won all three available break points and 89 per cent of his first-serve points. Auger-Aliassime will face the top-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy in the quarterfinals of the hard court tournament. Sinner is coming off a 6-4, 7-6(4) win over French qualifier Adrian Mannarino in the round of 16. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Auger-Aliassime is the lone Canadian singles player still in the tournament, though Canadian doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski and her partner, New Zealand's Erin Routliffe, are set to play American Caty McNally and Linda Noskova of Czechia in third-round action on Thursday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 13, 2025.
