By Jake Donovan
Unlike most boxers, Mike Lee had plenty of other choices in life before deciding to take up the sport full-time.
The unbeaten Chicagoland contender earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the famed University of Notre Dame and was wooed by Wall Street among several major enterprises but instead chose to pursue his dream of becoming a world champion.
Whether or not he achieves that goal remains to be seen as he enters a July 20 super middleweight title challenge versus unbeaten titlist Caleb Plant. The fact that he’s arrived on this stage, however, is already a major win given how few believed he’d make it this far in the sport.
“This has been a culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice,” Lee (21-0, 11KOs) noted during a New York City press conference on Tuesday to formally announce their bout, which will air live on Fox from MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. “Most importantly, I've gotten somewhere no one thought I would get.
“I'm fine being the underdog. I have nothing to lose. I'm coming out with everything I have. This is everything I've ever wanted. I respect Caleb Plant, but on July 20, I plan on making it my moment.”
Lee will actually be dropping down in weight for his first career title challenge, having largely campaigned as a light heavyweight since turning pro nine years ago.The 31-year old boxer became a marketing favorite despite his lack of boxing notoriety, his backstory becoming of intrigue to fast food chain Subway, whom signed Lee as a national spokesperson in 2011.
Through his frequent commercial spots, Lee became more famous than many far more accomplished athletes in the sport. His unbeaten record is more gloss than substance, lacking a win over anyone even remotely resembling a contender as he’s served far more as a sizeable draw in the midwestern U.S. region, particularly close to his Wheaton, Ill. home.
His ascension to the title stage comes in stark contrast to Plant, who all but lived on scraps while growing up in rural Ashland City, Tenn. The unbeaten 26-year old—whom relocated to the Las Vegas area nearly three years ago—fought his way through the ranks to earn a mandatory title shot.
Plant (18-0, 11KOs) realized his own dream in unseating perceived divisional boogeyman Jose Uzcategui this past January, with his upcoming clash versus Lee serving as his first title defense, for which he enters as a heavy betting favorite.
Despite lacking world class credentials, Lee believes having fought in front of massive crowds in Chicago and even at his Notre Dame alma mater—headlining the first ever card on campus in Sept. 2011—has helped him prepare for this moment.
“The whole reason I got into this sport is to do it on big stages,” insists Lee, who has been out of the ring since a 10-round win over Jose Hernandez last June in Rosemont, Ill. “Everyone wants to prove it on the biggest stage possible and there's no bigger stage than at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It's a dream come true and it's the reason I've worked so hard.
“I've had people that never thought I'd get here and I love it. It takes a different kind of person to step into that ring in front of so many people. You have to be ready to go out there and risk it all. I fight who they put in front of me and keep winning. That's what I plan to do on July 20.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
