ONE Championship women’s atomweight champion Angela Lee and her husband, ONE featherweight Bruno Pucci are having a baby. ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong recently offered his congratulations, and announced ONE will hold an women’s atomweight grand prix.
“Please join me in congratulating ONE Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee Pucci and Bruno Pucci on their wonderful news! I have had the good fortune of knowing both Angela and Bruno for many years and I could not be happier for them and the little one on the way,” he wrote on Facebook. “I have seen them both go through good, bad, and ugly times as athletes, individuals, and a couple over the years. And I can tell you that Angela and Bruno are truly wonderful people with hearts of gold.
“And yes, the rumors are true. I immediately signed the baby to ONE Championship as our youngest athlete signing in history when Angela first informed me of her pregnancy several weeks ago. Fans can expect a massive debut in 2037! On a more serious note, I am happy to announce that there will now officially be a ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix Championship tournament to kick things off in 2021. I am SUPER PUMPED for this tournament. Stay tuned for details!
“Congratulations again, Angela and Bruno! May you guys always be blessed with all of the love and happiness in the world! #WeAreONE”
Lee had been scheduled to defend her title vs. #1 contender Denice The Menace Zamboanga from the Philipines, who is coming off a unanimous decision win over #4 ranked Mei Yamaguchi of Japan in February. The GP size and brackets have not been announced, but both Zamboanga and Yamaguchi would be natural candidates. It is also expected that the GP will include Heqin Lin and the division’s #2 ranked atomweight, Meng Bo, the only woman to ever defeat Zhang Weili.
If the tournament extends to eight fighters, it could include:
•#5 ranked Gina Iniong of the Philippines;
•21-year-old Japanese prodigy Itsuki Hirata;
•Vietnamese-American Bi Nguyen;
•Former title challenger Jenny Huang of Taiwan;
•Jihin Radzuan of Malaysia; and,
•ONE could even include Lee’s 16-year-old sister VItoria Lee, who recently signed her first professional contract.
h/t Nick Atkin for SCMP
