One Championship’s Feb. 28 Event in Singapore Closed to Public Due to Coronavirus Concerns

One Championship “King of the Jungle” will be a spectator-less event.

One CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced on Monday that the Feb. 28 card will be closed to the public due to the outbreak of the coronavirus in Singapore. Instead, it will be a broadcast only event.

“In light of the coronavirus situation in Singapore, I have made the decision to convert ONE: King of the Jungle on February 28 into a closed event for broadcast only,” Sityodtong wrote. “The Singapore Indoor Stadium will not be open to the general public, but the event will proceed behind closed doors as scheduled live on all TV and digital platforms across 150+ countries around the world. If you purchased tickets to attend the event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, you will receive a full refund.”

The coronavirus outbreak originated in China, where it has reportedly killed 1,770 people and infected 70,000. There have been more than 71,000 cases of coronavirus worldwide, with the largest outbreaks outside of China occurring in Singapore and Japan.

Sityodtong acknowledged that the organization initially considered canceling the event altogether but ultimately decided against going that route.

“My team and I had the option to cancel the event altogether, but we chose not to cancel it. More than ever, the world needs hope and strength right now,” he wrote. “Our heroes are prepared to inspire you with the greatest performances of their lives on February 28. We are here to give all of our fans around the world another magical night to celebrate the best of humanity. At One Championship, our mission since Day 1 has been to unleash real-life superheroes who ignite the world with hope, strength, dreams, and inspiration.

“Let us unite as a country and let us show strength as a continent to conquer this coronavirus. Let us celebrate what makes us special, what makes us strong, what makes us human. A ship is not made to sit in the calm waters of a harbor. It is made to conquer the rough seas in search of new horizons. With love, compassion, and resilience, we will get through these tough times together.”

The Singapore-based promotion already moved its April 11 card, originally slated for Chongquing, China, to Jakarta, Indonesia because of the coronavirus outbreak. That event is headlined by a flyweight title bout between reigning champ Adriano Moraes and Demetrious Johnson.

One Championship “King of the Jungle” takes place at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore and features championship bouts in muay Thai and kickboxing as well as Yoshihiro Akiyama’s second promotional appearance.