SANTA MONICA, CA. (July 20, 2019) - Unbeaten super middleweight contender Mike Lee
shared his thoughts on his upcoming title showdown against super middleweight champion
Caleb “Sweethands” Plant from his training camp at Gloveworx in Santa Monica, California
before he steps into the ring Saturday, July 20 in the FOX PBC Fight Night main event from the
MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
FOX PBC Fight Night action begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and features rising unbeaten
heavyweight sensation and 2016 Nigerian Olympian Efe Ajagba squaring off against undefeated
2016 Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen.
Tickets for the event, which is presented by TGB Promotions and Sweethands Promotions, are
on sale now and can be purchased online through AXS.com, charge by phone at 866-740-7711
or in person at any MGM Resorts International box office.
Lee is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame where he earned a finance degree from the
Mendoza School of Business before embarking on his pro boxing career. Here is what Lee had
to say about his training camp, his journey to fighting for the title and more:
MIKE LEE
"I have strong belief in my power. I think to put yourself out there and drive through adversity,
it's going to be more mental than physical and God knows I've had my ups and downs
especially with my illness and being in and out of hospitals. But I'm here now and I've won
seven fights since I was diagnosed with my auto-immune disease and I'm here doing what
people thought I could not do. Whether it's the boxing media or doctors, I'm defying the odds, so
why should July 20 be any different.
“What's kept me going through the ups and downs is the love for this sport and the love for
moments like this. I always knew this world title shot would come if I kept grinding and grinding
and putting in that work when people weren't watching. Ultimately, I wanted to prove to myself
that I could do it on the days that I doubted myself.
“I've fought on big stages before. I've headlined a card at Notre Dame that had 6,000 people.
I've headlined Chicago fights too, so this is nothing different. It's not like I'm some unknown
challenger coming in to the spotlight. I thrive in the spotlight and have had some big moments
since the beginning of my career. This is just another day in the office.
“I think Caleb Plant is going to see a Mike Lee he's never seen. He's going to feel that power.
He's talking about knockouts, but he hasn't knocked anyone out in his past seven fights. Wait
until he feels my power. It'll only take one and you'll see the doubt that will plant in his head.
“Notre Dame means so much to me. I worked so hard to get into that school and that school
gave back so much to me as well. To be a part of that Notre Dame community and have friends
like Golden Tate and Justin Tuck, who won Super Bowl rings, I want to be a part of that. I want
to be a part of that championship legacy and continue to keep giving back.
“For me I moved from Houston to Los Angeles because for a couple of years when I got sick, I
was back home in Chicago trying to figure out how to become healthier. Ultimately moving to
California has been a phenomenal move for me. I loved my team in Houston but I love being by
the beach and by the water. California has been an awesome training spot. You've got some of
the best fighters and athletes in the world that come here. Being immersed in that type of culture
has been phenomenal."