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| Angela Lee held the ONE Women's Atomweight World Championship since May 6, 2016. ONE FC |
by Drew Malihan
MANILA - ONE Championship's women's division could potentially see an end of an era with the situation regarding the promotion's women's atomweight champion Angela Lee.
ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong quipped in a Wednesday Facebook Live Q&A session that the 26-year-old may have fought his last MMA bout and hang her gloves altogether.
“Angela Lee is likely not coming back due to the loss of her sister,” said Chatri, noting the sudden passing of his younger sister Victoria last December 26, with Angela revealing the news on January 7.
The Thai addressed the division's situation in a separate interview with the South China Morning Post, with an upcoming fight between number one ranked Stamp Fairtex and number two ranked Ham Seo-hee for the interim title this July.
“Angela is still undecided on her return, but could likely retire. Stamp versus Ham is interim,” says Chatri.
Stamp is Lee's last opponent, who suffered a second-round loss to the champion in ONE: X last March 26 last year, while Angela extends her reign which started from May 6, 2016.
Ham meanwhile is on a nine-match win streak since 2017, and is aiming for a fourth straight victory since arriving in ONE last 2021.
Angela's younger brother Christian, who held both the men's lightweight and welterweight belts, is looking for a return with the Singapore-based promotion.
“I spoke to Christian – he wants to fight 100 per cent, but he will take the rest of the year off,” Chatri informed the South China Morning Post, citing a return to 2024.
The 24-year old last fought in November, winning the ONE Welterweight title against Kiamrian Abbasov in the fourth round.
Both the lightweight and welterweight divisions will have their own interim title bouts on a later date, says Chatri.
Follow him on Twitter: @drew_corner
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