Aug 2015 08

FullSizeRender(1)On August 15, 2015 the UCA Golden Fists award winner Steven Lee, Sedgwick Sheriff’s Dept. will square off with the interim UCA Jr Middleweight Champion Chris Martinez, Fresno Police Dept. in the Louisiana Battle of the Badges. The UCA caught up with Lee to ask him a few questions about his upcoming fight with Martinez.

UCA – What gym do you train at and who is your coach?

SL – I train at Northside Boxing 316 and my coach is one of the best. Coach  Lewis Hernandez  However I have taken a different approach this time. My coach for this fight is my cousin Justin Mason.

UCA – How has the process been preparing for this fight with work, family and training fitting into your schedule?

SL – My schedule is pretty much set, luckily my other half works full time and goes to nursing school full time so we are both busy people. When she’s at school I’m at the gym. My son hangs out with his nieces and nephews or he stays with me.

UCA – Who are some of the people you are sparring or training with to prepare for the fight?

SL – Justin Mason of Griffey Muay Thai, Some people from my gym, very decorated fighters. I took a different approach of training for this one.

UCA – Will your training and preparation for this fight been any different from your previous fights?

SL – It’s very different this time, I have trained for this fight mostly at my own home in my gym in the garage. Except for sparring with others then I go somewhere.

UCA – Are you doing any crazy or unique workouts to prepare for the fight?

SL – Not exactly no, I do feel my work outs that my coach has taught me the last couple years are as crazy as a work out I can get without falling out. Every time I’m done I throw my hands up in the air because I’m so happy it’s over. My coach is a machine I swear.

UCA – What made you want to take this fight?

SL – 3 reasons, My son and other half are coming with me, Med camps charity, last one….I just love punching people with style 🙂

UCA – Styles make fights and with your style and Martinez style this fight can only go one way and that is straight ahead full speed, nonstop fireworks from start to finish. Do you expect a 3 round war with Martinez?

SL – I am not sure on this one, We both in our head say I am gonna knock him out. However once you start getting after it things change sometimes. The guy might be tougher then you think and things aren’t as easy as you thought they were gonna be.  Either way we are going to war on Aug 15th and I will try my best to stop the fight early.

UCA – Are you a guy that studies your opponents fights?

SL – Yes I do, I have watched everything I can on this man.

UCA – Do you feel by watching fight video you can pick things up that can help you win the fight?

SL – I do feel that I have picked up some mistakes that he makes while he is fighting. Not necessarily mistakes but things he will pay for if he does them on me. 🙂  I will say this, I’m staying away from this guys straight right hand. Its a wrecking ball.

UCA – Are you working on anything specific for Martinez?

SL – I am, I can’t share though because then he would know what’s coming when he makes one certain movement with his head and get’s in a danger zone. I don’t want him knowing where that zone is at. lol

UCA – If you feel the fight is close going into the 3rd round will you come out hard looking to push the pace and land something hard to win the round?

SL – I am doing that every round no matter what. This guy hits harder then a bull that’s been caged for 10 years. That means I will try to finish the fight if I can because honestly I do not want to be punched in the face by this man. It’s gonna hurt haha.

UCA – Do you feel you will have to put on the best performance of your career to beat Martinez?

SL – I truly do feel that I will on Aug 15th, That is the only way I will win this fight and that’s what I’m coming to do.

UCA – Do you feel the Louisiana humidity and heat will have an effect on your performance Saturday night?

SL – Naaa, I live in Kansas and the humidity here sucks, It’s like walking into a sauna every day you go outside.

UCA – Will you try to get in a light workout before the fight or will you just rest?

SL – Friday I will yes, either after weigh ins or before. Then Saturday I will go for a run in the morning and hang out with family until my fight.

UCA – What will you be thinking as you walk to the ring?

SL – I will be thinking that it’s great that so many people showed up to support a great cause, and that my son is watching and I refuse to lose in front of him.

UCA – Have you envisioned in your mind how the fight ends?

SL – I really haven’t, all I know is we both want this. If we both stay up all three rounds then either way win or lose it will be the best fight of the night and that’s what people remember. I can promise that. However I refuse to lose in front of my son.:)