- ‘Unstoppable’ stays active but admits to struggles – ‘like the whole world, everything has been put on hold for us’
- Lee is set to defend atomweight belt against Denice Zamboanga ‘but with everything going on we just don’t know’
Angela Lee has over the past few weeks been reaching out to fans and fellow martial artists who are similarly self-isolated as the coronavirus continues to blight the globe.
In tough times, she says, even the smallest dose of cheer can help and the fact that One Championship's atomweight queen has been able to lean on the help of her faithful hounds in a series of "stay-at-home" workout clips seems to have struck a chord globally.
"Everything is up in the air for us and, like the whole world, everything has been put on hold," says Lee from her family home in Hawaii. "But we're still active. We're always that way. We're fortunate enough that we can do workouts at home. We still workout with each other. Plus, I've tried to involve people with my clips. They love it, especially when there are dogs involved. It's just me trying to keep things positive and to reach out."
So there's a least a little light in dark times but there has also been plenty of pause for reflection for the 23-year-old star as she looks towards whatever the future holds while taking in lessons from 12 months that, let's say, had their moments.
It started with what had previously often seemed unthinkable and that was the "Unstoppable" Lee losing. Twice. But by year's end Lee (10-2) had her atomweight title intact after bouncing back from those disappointments with a win in October over China's Xiong "The Panda" Jingnan (14-2), in which Lee had looked back to her very best.
"Definitely last year was something," laughs Lee. "It didn't go the way I planned, but it all happened for the better. I definitely feel like I got better because of it.
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Perks of having keys to the family gym! Me and the hubz still getting in those lift sessions! Don't worry, we santize everything before and after @beachbody.gear @venum @unitedmmahawaii
A post shared by Angela Lee Pucci (@angelaleemma) on Mar 26, 2020 at 5:02pm PDT
"By the end I just felt a little bit more mature as a fighter. I'd been through five-round wars, losses, and then made adjustments so I could come back stronger. Fighting is not an easy thing. It's never easy. But I was really happy with my performance in October."
The year had started with a tilt at Xiong's strawweight title at One's monster A New Era card in Tokyo that ended with a late TKO loss to the Chinese fighter. More of a surprise came with a decision loss to BJJ master Michelle Niccolini (6-2) on the Masters of Destiny card in Kuala Lumpur in July.
To her credit, Lee faced the press immediately after that loss, which had for a few moments looked to have left her devastated, judging by the look on Lee's face inside the cage when the 38-year-old Niccolini's arm was raised.
"Going into that fight I really just wanted to bounce back and it was frustrating when it didn't go my way after a close fight," Lee says. "But you know, I think now it was just a sign. I needed to work harder, no excuses. That fight did push me to train harder and to up my game."
The back-to-back losses came following a wretched run of luck for a fighter who had seemingly been blessed, through abundant natural talent and being born into a family steeped in martial arts traditions. There had been a car accident, in November 2017, from which Lee walked away when far worse might have been expected. But there were back issues that lingered and continue to do so.
Comfort has come " as always " with family, and the fact father Ken and mother Jewelz are martial artists, her brother and bestie Christian (13-3) is One's reigning lightweight champ, and husband Bruno Pucci (7-4) plies his trade in the organisation's featherweight and lightweight divisions.
"With my family, we're very open when it comes to dialogue about fights, about mindset," says Lee. "We're always checking in on each other to make sure everything is OK. It was tough for a while when I was down, but they definitely play a huge part, not just in how my performance is but how my mindset is when I am stepping in there, and outside the cage.
"With the disc trouble it still bothers me every single day. It's just a constant thing, so I just try to stretch and recover. I'm learning every single day how to be a better fighter and how to take care of my body."
Lee's position at the top of the One tree has obviously put a huge target on her back and the organisation's atomweight division is increasingly looking flushed with both promise and portent.
Japan's Itsuki "Strong Heart Fighter" Hirata (6-0) is on a tear. Chinese talent Meng Bo (14-5) has also signed on " and said Lee is in her sights. And word around the traps is there might be a meeting with Filipina Denice "The Menace" Zamboanga (4-0) " once life returns to normal. There's also " no doubt " the third episode of the Lee-Xiong drama for us all to sit back and watch play out until the curtain falls.
We'll never get an Angela Lee call-out " but she says that's not to say she doesn't keep close watch on movements within her strike zone.
"If I were to trash talk and act like that it would just be so completely out of character," says Lee. "As a person I have always wanted to stay true to who I am, so I don't want to put on any fake act just to get a few extra bucks.
"But new talent is always something that is making it very exciting for me and my fellow female athletes. It will push us all to a higher level. When it comes to competitors or contenders I never have any ill wishes. I'm always on the lookout for them and I'm always on the lookout for the next top contender."
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Another home workout vid! Ft. me and my girl, Athena How heavy can you go?? My thighs are on fiyahhh @venum @unitedmmahawaii @onechampionship @beachbody.gear
A post shared by Angela Lee Pucci (@angelaleemma) on Mar 19, 2020 at 11:29pm PDT
The trick now is to stay safe and home " and healthy " and wait this thing out, like the rest of the world.
"Ideally I'll be defending my atomweight title and fighting for the strawweight title," says Lee. "I'm still aiming to get my shot at that strawweight title. It's really something that crushes my mind.
"It is a huge goal but with everything that's going on this year we just don't know. For now, we're just trying to make the most of what we can and keeping an eye on the news like everybody else."
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