Mike Lee on path to title shot with a win over Jose Hernandez
Mike Lee looks to ignite a run at a title, but he has to impress against Jose Hernandez to turn his dreams into a reality.
Mike Lee (20-0, 11 KOs) possesses a flawless record. He has big dreams of earning a title shot within the light heavyweight division. His dreams may turn into a reality if he can string together a series of impressive victories, and his quest starts against Jose Hernandez (19-3-1, 9 KOs).
Lee’s path to boxing is a unique one. Most boxers have a similar backstory where they’ve experienced the proverbial school of hard knocks and fought their way to the top. These paths to a boxing title are almost cliché. Lee’s story is different.
He returns to his home state of Illinois when he fights Hernandez at the Allstate Arena on Friday, June 8. Lee grew up in Chicago’s West Suburbs and earned the reputation as a tough kid. He starred as a middle linebacker at Benet Academy. Lee was undersized for the position, but his heart and physicality made him a standout.
He hoped of playing college ball, but injuries upended his gridiron dreams. With one dream taken away, he made another come true — his admission to the University of Notre Dame.
At Notre Dame, Lee’s boxing talents shined. He won the school’s historic boxing tournament, Bengal Bouts, three years in a row. The tournament was started in1920 by Knute Rockne to toughen up his football players. It’s now a yearly tradition open to the entire student body.
Lee graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2009 with a degree in finance. He had brains and brawn. He chose to forgo a career in the financial industry and decided to chase down his dream of being a world boxing champion.
Lee has been a professional boxer for eight years and has found success, but his route to realizing his dreams was obstructed by his own immune system. His body which was the vehicle to success in the ring betrayed him and almost ended his career as a pugilist.
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Lee openly discussed his battles with ankylosing spondylitis in an article he wrote for The Player’s Tribune and also talked to FanSided in April about his struggles with the autoimmune disease.
With his medical condition under control, Lee fights on to bring his championship dreams into existence. He’s currently rated number three by the WBO and looks to ascend the light heavyweight rankings across the board.
His opponent, Jose Hernandez, has a respectable record, but lacks experience against seasoned opponents. It’s hard to handicap Hernandez’s chances against Lee because fight footage on him is hard, if not impossible, to find on the web.
On paper, Lee should have his way with Hernandez. They have equal size, but Hernandez has been knocked out twice. Lee is more of a boxer than a power puncher, but he is well conditioned and keeps his hands moving.
Lee’s biggest asset is his intelligence. His degree from Notre Dame proves that he’s a thinking man. He’s as analytical and knowledgeable inside the ring as he is outside. Hernandez is in over his head, and this fight should be a showcase of Lee’s abilities.
Next: Terence Crawford fights for legacy
Look for Lee to stop Hernandez somewhere around round seven. Lee won’t stop Hernandez with one punch, but he will break him down with an accumulation of punishment. He will put on a show for his hometown and will advance one step closer towards his title hopes. Tune in to CBS Sports Net at 10:00 p.m. ET to catch Lee in action.