Lee enters ring on major undercard
The last time Mike Lee entered the ring he was the main event in Notre Dame's first professional boxing match. This weekend he will fight on the undercard in one of the most anticipated fights of the year.
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The 2009 Notre Dame graduate will fight a bout scheduled for six rounds against Allen Medina (9-19-1) in front of a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden tonight prior to the much anticipated super welterweight rematch between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.
Irish Illustrated caught up with Lee, who carries a 7-0 professional record, earlier this week.
Irish Illustrated: The last time we talked was post-fight at Notre Dame. In that time since what has training been like and what have you been working on?
Mike Lee: I think the time between that fight and this fight has honestly been my best camp. I know a lot of people say that. They say they feel great and it was a great camp. But I felt like my growth mentally and physically since the last fight was huge. Taking on that fight, being the main event and everything at Notre Dame, was really good for me to get used to that kind of pressure.
I spent the last two weeks in Mexico City with my team training with Kermit Cintron and sparring with him. Having him get ready for the Canelo Alvarez fight, he fought on HBO for a world title last Saturday. I've been out in Mexico City training every day really hard in the high altitude. I feel terrific coming back here to Houston and especially New York.
II: Looking back on the fight at Notre Dame, with all the pomp and circumstance around it, what did you learn from that experience?
ML: Inside the ring I was happy with my performance because I was patient. The fight before I got a big knockdown in the first round and I fought one of those guys that was really tough. You fight those guys, sometimes you've gotta go to their body and that's how I ended up stopping the fight. I got a little too overanxious in that fight in (Los Angeles). I think I did a good job of staying patient and even when I did get the knock down, just working off my jab and everything. Getting the win and coming out healthy, I couldn't be happier with that.
In terms of outside the ring, it was an amazing crowd. I was extremely pleased to make a contribution to both those charities and a school that means so much to me. It was really, really cool. I got to hang out with some of the Robinson (Community Learning Center) kids before the fight and saw a few of them ringside during the fight. I got a personal letter from the president, Father (John) Jenkins, thanking me for what I did for the school. It's my understanding that everything went off very well and I'm really excited about that because it was the first professional boxing event in Notre Dame's history and for it to be a charitable event on top of that and for me to get the win, I can't ask for anything else.
II: This weekend you'll be at Madison Square Garden, obviously a place that's had some great boxing events before, and you've fought on some big undercards, but what's your expectation for this atmosphere and fighting on this stage?
ML: I expect a very energetic crowd not unlike the last one because New York fight fans are great fight fans. I've seen a fight in the Garden and they know their boxing, so I'm excited for them to see me. Hopefully a lot of people that haven't seen me fight before see what I'm all about. I just expect that high energy. I know everybody's been waiting for this fight and not only that, the undercard on this fight is gonna be unbelievable. I really expect this to be the card of the year and I'm really hoping to add to that.
II: Without giving away any secrets, do you have a feel for what some of the keys for you will be?
ML: I think the key for me is to work on what we've been working on in the gym, which is some new combinations and staying patient. I have a strong jab and I think I've been working on that and my success has been great. I think that's where my success has been. We've been working on a few other things in the gym and adding combinations. I really think you're gonna see that on Saturday for sure.
II: Do you know much about what your opponent brings to the table, some of the things you'll have to guard against?
ML: He's just a tall, lanky guy so obviously I think he's one of those guys that wants to fight on the outside and box. You need to be careful not to get lulled into his kind of style. A slow, boring fight. But that's never been me. I always come forward and I always press the issue. For me it's just coming forward and establishing that ring generalship. I think once he feels my power it'll slow him down.
II: With a guy like this that has this much fight experience is it difficult to get him out of what he wants to do?
ML: Sometimes it is but that's the beauty of boxing. It's always tough to say styles make fights. Some guys' records are misleading. You can never take anybody lightly. The last guy I fought was 4-1 and had a couple knockouts with his wins. The tape we saw of him he was very aggressive but when I fought him he boxed and kind of ran all night. When that bell rings I guess you've just gotta be ready for anything. I just know that I've been training so hard there's no way I'm leaving the Garden without a win.
II: What's your take on the Cotto-Margarito rematch and what fans can expect in the main event of your card?
ML: I'm really excited. I really hope that not only fight fans but other fans buy the pay-per-view, especially for the main event. I grew up loving Cotto. I loved his style. I loved his demeanor, the way he goes about his business. He's one of my favorite boxers who ever lived. I think it's a dream come true fighting on his undercard. I can't wait to meet him. I haven't met him yet so I'm excited to meet him this week. If the first fight is any indication, expect a lot of action and a lot of blood. I think Cotto's gonna come out on top in this one.
II: What were some of the things about Cotto that really caught your attention as you've been coming up?
ML: I always just felt I had a lot of similarities to him. I really like how he comes forward, especially early in his career. He really worked off his combinations well and has a beautiful jab. I don't know. Something mentally with him I really related to. He always came into the ring and was never one of those guys that was overconfident or cocky or dancing or showboating. He went in there with a stern look on his face and he knew it was time for business. That's exactly how I come about it. This sport is no joke so I really come into it with that fierce mentality. I guess you can just see it in his eyes and the way he carries himself. I always wanted to be that. It's pretty cool. He really was and still is a boxing idol to me.