By Thomas Gerbasi
Mike Lee is in a good mood these days and it’s not because the newly-minted Californian is avoiding the winter weather in his native Illinois.
Instead, the reason for such optimism from the unbeaten light heavyweight is that, finally, his career is reaching that point all fighters hope to get to. He’s a contender, the fights are all important now, and if he keeps winning, he may end up in a title fight sooner rather than later.
You would be in a good mood too.
“This is the year that by the end of the year, people are going to know my name in the boxing world,” he said. “I’ve got a top 15 world ranking, we had a good fight last year against Chris Traietti and I learned from that fight that the better the opposition, the better I fight, so I’m excited. I think this is the first step to some big fights in the middle and end of the year and I’m ready for it. I’m 29, I’m 18-0, had my first ten-rounder last year and it’s that time now, so I feel like I’m hitting my peak both physically and mentally.”
Perhaps even more importantly, those who called Lee a media creation are starting to dwindle with each passing win. His victory over the 21-3 Traietti in September was his third of the year, his busiest schedule since 2012, and in dropping his foe and then winning a clear-cut decision, he earned the vacant USBA title at 175 pounds. And with that title, he got a top 15 ranking with the IBF.
But “I told you so” isn’t in Lee’s vocabulary. Not yet.
“I’m gonna say ‘I told you so’ when I win a world title,” he said. “It’s not over for me. That was a great win (over Traietti), but I’m looking towards the next win, then the next one and even bigger fights.”
That’s the right thing to say, and not surprising from the classy Lee. But he does admit that still getting criticism about the Subway commercials he did when he was a 4-0 newcomer to the pro game is an annoyance, especially since any fighter presented with the same opportunity would have done the same thing he did.
“Yeah, I’ve had somewhat of a chip on my shoulder, and anybody in my camp or who I’ve sparred with or gotten close with understands how seriously I take this and how hard I’ve worked,” he said. “When I came out and Subway offered me those commercials, I was only 4-0 and anybody in their right mind would have said yes to that. It would be crazy to say no to that kind of exposure, and I did well for them. I worked my butt off, I worked my lines, I did what I could in front of the camera, and they kept using me. I was extremely grateful for that exposure, but what it also does is put a target on your back.”
That target meant that whoever Lee was matched up with was going to bring his “A” game, even if their record didn’t show any particular danger. Why? Because a win over the kid in the Subway commercial meant more attention and at least one better payday for a rematch. For Lee, it forced him to take everyone seriously and, in the process, get better.
“You had guys that had nothing to lose and wanted to beat me and put that name of this young kid who is getting a lot of notoriety on their record,” he said. “It’s very similar to when (Lee’s alma mater) Notre Dame would play people. They would play these small schools, and these schools would bring everything they had. So whether it was in the gym or especially in the fights, I feel like that definitely made me a better fighter.”
This Thursday, Lee makes his first start of 2017 at The Hangar in Costa Mesa against 18-1 Justin Thomas. A win keeps the momentum going, and next, he may get a bigger name in a division that is the most interesting it’s been in years.
“I’m looking at the top 15 in the world and I’m seeing where I fit in,” Lee said. “Honestly, a couple years ago I always wanted to fight these guys at the top of the division, but I was still fighting six and eight-rounders and had to progress like anybody else. So yeah, that’s what I get excited about. I’m excited to fight those guys who have big names. That’s what gets me motivated. I’m 29. I’m not 22 anymore.”
And he’s ready for prime time after several years in the boxing wilderness when injuries forced him to decide whether this is what he really wanted. He did.
“I think with anything in life, it’s a hunger,” Lee said. “I’ve always been hungry for a world title. It sounds corny, it sounds cliché, but that is my ultimate dream. It’s why I put so much time in. I want that moment when I can hold up a world title belt. I know it’s gonna take patience, but it’s that underlying hunger. No matter what you’re into, if you can find that hunger for something, you find a way to be patient and find a way to go through all the pain.”