I like Lee, but I acknowledge this was a poor showing from him. He's fought a lot better than that before, so maybe it was overconfidence or illness or something. Not to make excuses for him, though. But anyway, I hate the knee jerk reaction on here. Let me put this loss into perspective. Jack Dempsey lost in his 8th pro fight. Bernard Hopkins lost in his 1st pro fight. Carlos Monzon lost in his 9th pro fight. Henry Armstrong was 1-3 in his first 4 fights. Some fighters don't react well, but before calling Lee a hypejob or anything like that, we should see how he reacts. He either comes back focused and determined, like he was before, or he simply doesn't. Judge him by how he responds, not on this loss. It can happen to the best of 'em. (By the way, I think it's the same with Juan Diaz. He'll be back, too)
He just needs to be more focused at his gameplan, keep the fitness up, less of the showmanship, more focus, hard work and he can be back for sure
I second that. Whenever a young hopeful loses his first fight, they distance themselves and say, "overrated" "hype-job" etc. But I think Lee will be back. I did think Steward was pushing him a bit too quickly (trying to get him a title shot this year) but this isn't the end of his career, not by a long shot
Yeah 1 loss doesn't do anything as long as its in the begining of your career - its okay to taste defeat and be humbled.
He's young, fairly tough...but not in the league just above him. He got beaten by a very mediocre fighter. He's too one dimensional. World champ in the making?...Heck no!!! Manny Steward is a complete moron as a trainer!! His track record is the evidence. Now and again he gets a fighter in the gym, who is better than his training methods are and makes Manny looks good!
Obviously Lee will come back from the loss but maybe now he can be given time to develop into a more well rounded fighter. The hype did get to him, Steward and his fans. The kid needs a year or tro earning his due.
It's definatly not the end but it is a hge set back. The 0 goes a long way in getting a fighter publicity and big paydays. That 1 loss will probably cut his income in half and put him at a disadvantage in negotiating future fights as well as reduce the demand to see him fight.
Im with you on this one bro. Theres something about Lee that isnt natural. His fighting ability seems really out of wak. I dont see him picking up leverage to hit his opponent. Hes a skinny guy with some reach thats all I didnt see any technical ability and he froze under pressure. Why even continue boxing this fight let him know that he doesnt have the natural talent.
One loss doesn't end your career. However, a loss on national T.V against a guy who was startched by Codrington, when Manny Steward is your trainer, and everyone has been saying that you're the next big thing can be devastating.
He's still young, he's got Manny Steward and a loss or not, he'll still have a huge Irish following that will make sure he eats well for the rest of his life. The whole "1 LOSS AND YOU'RE DONE!" **** really does get tiring....From Lee to Taylor to Kessler to Juan Diaz....it makes you understand why people like Mundine and Erdei fight cans so much.
This is what people were like after Haye lost to the cat, saying he was a hypejob and all that, yet four years later look where he's at.
Taylor, Kessler, and Diaz all lost to world class fighters. Edrei and Mundine didn't have the hype that surrounds Lee. Their are plenty of fighters that have lost early in their careers. However, many of them were under the radar fighters who didn't build up their name untill later in their career. It's dissapointing that a guy with as much hype as Lee, and was thought to have been good enough to beat Pavlik, to lose to a guy like Vera. I'm not saying he can't comeback, but this is a devastating loss considering his situation.
The loss is irrelevant. It's how you lose and who you lose to that is. Lee lost to a journeyman. He lost to a nobody and looked like a nobody while losing. I have no idea why people were high on him. Nothing really sticks out about this guy that makes you take notice. Can someone explain to me why some of you were high on him?
