Angela Lee Doubles Down On Decision Not To Vacate Title In Heated Media Session

If there were any lingering questions about Angela Lee’s willingness to vacate the ONE Championship women’s atomweight title, the division’s reigning champion put them all to rest on Tuesday evening.

When asked why she didn’t relinquish the strap after confirming her pregnancy in 2020 and knowing full well she would be away from competition for an extended period of time, Lee was quick to reiterate her decision to keep the belt, expressing her disdain for vacating it, having earned the right to be called a champion.

“I think that ONE Championship has shown the way, this is what the standard should be, when a woman gets pregnant, in her work she’s supported and she has a job to come back to afterward,” Lee said in response to the media’s veiled denunciation.

“I’m very lucky, and I know that it’s going to come with a lot of criticism, a lot of hate, but I know how hard I’ve worked for this and I’m not just going to have that taken from me. So, that’s what I think.”

Lee was visibly perturbed when JM Siasat--a reporter from the Philippines--suggested that a fight between top contender Denice Zamboanga and any of the other four top contenders should have been made with either a vacant or interim title up for grabs.

This, hypothetically, would have taken place in the midst of Lee’s pregnancy and maternity leave, in lieu of the currently running ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix.

Even when it was theorized that Lee would have received a title shot—or a unification bout—immediately upon her return to action, the champion maintained her disapproval of the idea.

“Who would fight [for the title]? So, Denice [Zamboanga] is the so-called No. 1 contender, who would she fight? There was no one else in the division. There’s an Atomweight Grand Prix that was supposed to be happening, that was planned before I even announced that I was pregnant. Who would she fight? I think it’s ridiculous,” Lee fired back.

Lee, who has not fought since late 2019, is currently in line to defend her belt against the winner of the eight-woman tournament.

The one known as “Unstoppable” is ready to take on all comers, re-affirming that she has no intention of giving up the title that she worked countless days, weeks, and months to obtain.

Lee explained that company head honcho Chatri Sityodtong didn’t strip her of the belt because he too understands what it took for Lee to reach the peak of mixed martial arts.

“I’ve worked so hard to get to the position I’m at, and just because I get pregnant and I want to have a baby, I shouldn’t be stripped of my title, something that I’ve worked toward,” Lee said.

When asked for the final time if she ever considered vacating the atomweight belt, Lee responded with a clear and concise “No.”

Lee is expected to return to action as early as February 2022 to face the winner of the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix, which is slated to conclude by the end of the year.

After last Friday night’s historic ONE: EMPOWER card, which saw the tournament kick off with its quarterfinal round.

Four fighters remain in the competition: Japan’s Itsuki Hirata, India’s Ritu Phogat, South Korea’s Seo Hee Ham and Thailand’s Stamp Fairtex.

Whoever ends up reaching the finals and winning, Lee plans to show up to the venue, belt in one hand, baby in the other, and ready to defend what is duly hers.