ONE Championship: Victoria Lee to be honoured on January 14 every year, says Chatri Sityodtong
- Lee to be remembered by ONE every year on date of what was set to be her next fight before her death aged 18
- ‘I want to help the family channel their pain into something Victoria would be proud of,’ ONE boss Chatri adds
Victoria Lee will be remembered and honoured by ONE Championship every year on January 14, according to chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Chatri was brought to tears giving a speech to the Impact Arena and on the broadcast after a minute’s silence which was impeccably observed by the fans in the stands.
“I didn’t have anything prepared or planned,” Chatri told the Post. “I knew that he [commentator Brent Stover] was going to ask me about Victoria, but I didn’t know I was going to address the stadium or the viewership around the world.
“I just spoke from the heart. It’s still rough. I just talked on messenger with [Victoria’s mother] Jewelz and [elder brother] Christian. I’m in daily contact with the family, and I’m thinking now that January 14 is probably going to be Victoria Lee Day forever with ONE Championship.”
Lee, the younger sister of ONE champions Angela and Christian Lee, went 3-0 during a brief career in the promotion’s atomweight division in 2021.
She took 2022 off from fighting to focus on graduating from high school in Hawaii, where the family are based, and was set to return at last weekend’s card against India’s Zeba Bano.
“Angela and I are figuring out a way to [honour her],” Chatri added.
“Is it a scholarship? Is it an award? What is it exactly we want to communicate. But the legacy Victoria left behind is one of kindness, selflessness, authenticity, generosity, and a desire to do good in the world.
“That’s something we want to keep alive, and use our platform so that it echoes.
“I want to help the family channel their pain into something Victoria would be proud of, so her impact on the world is something she would have envisioned, that’s kind of my mindset right now.”
