Benet grad Lee goes 7-0 with decision over Stiers

• Reprints

Boxer and Notre Dame graduate Mike Lee and Irish coach Brian Kelly meet on the field Saturday after the team’s victory over Michigan State. | PHOTO COURTESY OF TEAM LEE

Updated: November 30, 2011 12:37AM

Mike Lee enjoyed a sweet homecoming, but the light heavyweight prospect had his hands full against Jacob Stiers.

Lee, a 24-year-old Wheaton native and Benet and Notre Dame graduate, returned to South Bend, Ind., for the first professional boxing event in the school’s history. He was the featured attraction for the six-bout Fight Like a Champion event, which raised money for local charities.

The Mendoza College of Business finance major responded with a four-round, unanimous 38-34 decision against Stiers Sept. 16 at the Joyce Center’s Purcell Pavilion.

“It was probably the most thrilling fight I’ve ever had,” Lee said. “To come home with that kind of atmosphere and to be the main event for the first time, this early in my career, was pretty amazing.”

With the victory, Lee improves to 7-0 with four knockouts in his young career. Stiers falls to 4-2 with two knockouts. Lee knocked Stiers down in the first, second and fourth rounds, while Stiers sent Lee down in the third round.

“Even though there was a brief shaky moment, I showed people that I can get knocked down and come back and knock the other person down,” Lee said. “And that’s what fighters do. There’s no way I was going to lose that fight, so in terms of that, I can’t ask for much more. I really can’t.”

Lee had never before been knocked down as a professional. He said he got up slowly to keep his legs under him.

Stiers kept Lee in constant pursuit throughout the bout, running around the outside of the ring. To counteract that tactic, Lee and trainer Ronnie Shields devised a strategy to go to the body in an effort to slow Stiers.

“It’s tough to look polished and it’s tough to get those shots off when you’ve got a guy who’s constantly running and trying to get angles on you,” Lee said. “We hadn’t seen that before but we definitely adjusted.”

Next up for Lee is a Dec. 3 fight at Madison Square Garden. He’ll take plenty away from his most recent fight.

“I know that I’m good for six rounds, which is the next step,” Lee said. “I felt like I could have done four more Friday night; my conditioning was phenomenal. …I think, if anything, mentally knowing to stay relaxed and mentally, knowing that whatever comes my way Dec. 3, I’m going to be ready for because I felt like this was such a big test and there was so much pressure on me.”

The night featured six bouts, all of which provided fans with high-competition boxing. Proceeds from the evening raised $100,000, to be given to the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation and the Robinson Community Learning Center. The Mike Lee Foundation and promotional boxing company Top Rank Incorporated co-sponsored the event.

Lee, a three-time Bengal Bouts champion at Notre Dame, also had the honor of watching Notre Dame’s Sept. 17 win over Michigan State from the sidelines. Additionally, Regis Philbin served as the guest ring announcer for the Fight Like a Champion gala.