ONE Championship: Iuri Lapicus, former title challenger, dies at 27
- Lapicus was reportedly involved in a motorcycle accident in Pogliano Milanese, Italy, and died after being airlifted to hospital
- Moldovan-Italian fought 5 times for ONE, challenging Christian Lee for the lightweight belt, and battling likes of Eddie Alvarez and Marat Gafurov
Former ONE Championship lightweight title challenger Iuri Lapicus has died at the age of 27.
The Moldovan-born Italian’s death was revealed by his friend and teammate, former ONE featherweight kickboxing champion Giorgio Petrosyan, who shared the news on Instagram.
“I want to remember you like this,” Petrosyan wrote in Italian. His post included several photos of Lapicus in competition and in the gym. “R.I.P.”
ONE Championship later acknowledged the news in a statement to the Post.
“The ONE Championship team is heartbroken over the tragic passing of Iuri Lapicus. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones at this difficult time.”
According to Italian media, Lapicus was involved in a motorcycle accident in Pogliano Milanese, Italy on March 17.
He was reportedly airlifted to Niguarda Hospital in nearby Milan, where he succumbed to his injuries three days later.
