ONE Championship star Angela Lee has introduced her retirement.
At ONE Battle Evening 14 in Singapore on Friday, Lee returned to the promotion, however not for a battle. Lee, overcome with emotion, walked to the cage the place he laid down the belt and broke the information to the world that he was carried out combating.
The announcement revealed Lee’s ongoing psychological well being struggles, together with a suicide try in 2017, earlier than and after the dying of his 18-year-old sister Victoria, who took her personal life in December 2022. It came about a couple of days later.
“I got here right here right now to formally announce my retirement,” Lee stated. “It has been an incredible eight years. I wish to thank the followers, ONE Championship, Chatri (Sittyotton), the crew and everybody. There was plenty of combating inside and outdoors the cage.”
“The very last thing I wish to say to the fighters and everybody watching on the market proper now could be this: The most important battle we face just isn’t in opposition to the enemy proper in entrance of us. The most important battle is inside ourselves. All of us expertise battle, however we battle. After we select to stand up within the face of adversity day by day, we emerge victorious. I can do it. Thanks very a lot, everybody. I really like you. Thanks.”
Lee, 27, competed in ONE Championship in 2015 for his skilled debut on the age of 18. She shortly emerged as a possible genius participant. Beginning her skilled profession with an undefeated document of 8-0, Lee earned her shot on the title by defeating then-champion Mei Yamaguchi by unanimous choice in Might 2018.
Lee misplaced his first title protection to Jinnag Sion, after which misplaced his subsequent match in opposition to Michel Nicolini, however he bounced again by avenging his loss to Sion and defeating Stamp Fairtex.
Lee most not too long ago competed in September 2022, dropping to Shion in an exciting unanimous choice rubber match. This trilogy is filled with motion and is considered by many viewers as among the most fun battles within the promotion’s historical past.
With Lee vacating the 115-pound title, Friday’s ONE Battle Evening 114 primary occasion, Stamp Fairtex vs. Search engine optimisation Hee-Ham, has been upgraded from a provisional bout to an undisputed championship match.
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