After a break from the sport, 140lbs contender Brandun Lee is recharged and ready to make moves with new promoters Queensberry. Shortly before Lee improved to 29-0, Boxing News’ Declan Taylor caught up with the confident Californian to see where he’s at.
SIGNING Brandun Lee was probably not on Frank Warren’s to-do list for 2024 but when the opportunity to sign a 28-0 world level contender presented itself, the Hall of Fame promoter did not hang around.
Now Lee, still only 25, will make his UK and Queensberry Promotions debut on Saturday night on the undercard of Joe Joyce’s heavyweight clash with Dereck Chisora at the o2 Arena* as he begins the next chapter in his career.
The Californian had surged to 28-0 (23) in the first six years of his career but Saturday night will represent his first outing in 15 months after a lengthy break which Lee insists has been a blessing and not a curse.
“Everyone needs a break,” he tells Boxing News. “We’re not robots.
“We all need a break from time to time but I’ve had mine now and I’m ready to go. It’s now all gas, no brake.
“April of last year was my last fight. But I really didn’t mind this long break because I felt like I needed to give my body a rest. I started boxing at the age of six and I had never taken longer than a week off. My body was always just going, going, going. But this allowed me to have a reset.”
There was a time when Lee was heralded as the future at 140lbs, was regularly showcased on TV slots and looked every inch a future world champion as he swept aside his overmatched opponents in the early stage of his career.
But he nearly came unstuck against the 17-1-3 Will Madera in August 2022, when he was dropped heavily in round three and did well to hang on at all. He showed his mettle, however, by regrouping and eventually winning a wide unanimous decision. He has boxed twice more since then, most recently a 10-round decision win against Pedro Campa in April 2023, but it is not unfair to say the early hype has quietened, if not totally died. Not that Lee is concerned. Instead, his lack of activity opened the door for…