Bodog and Strikeforce fighter makes boxing debut

From the Worcester Telegram:

Matt Lee of Clinton, a 155-pounder who made his bones in mixed martial arts competition (12-4-1), will make his pro boxing debut as a junior middleweight against Patrick Bozeman (0-3) of Boston. As an MMA pugilist, Lee is considered a lightweight, but he’s also a feared opponent. He has sparred in boxing against Rodriguez and Andrey Nevsky, a pair of unbeaten Worcester middleweights, and against Peter Manfredo Jr. of Providence. He thinks his MMA skills translate well into the boxing ring.

“I’m very comfortable boxing. I have the ring experience,” said the 36-year-old Lee, who fought on an MMA card on Friday night at the Crowne Plaza in Worcester. “I’ll bet I spar more than the average pro boxer, way more — and high-caliber sparring, too.”

Matchmaker Rohacik said Lee isn’t necessarily a knockout puncher, but praised his ability.

“I’d call him a boxer, but not a boxer who dances away,” Rohacik said. “He’s a boxer who stands there and mixes it up. He’s got a lot of skills, he’s a smart fighter. It might be his pro debut, but he knows how to use his hands.”

Lee, whose uncle was on the South Korean Olympic team, said he boxed as a youngster and spent lots of time around boxing gyms. He dabbled in Golden Gloves as an amateur, but MMA is his real love.

He also doesn’t plan to make this a long boxing career and pursue any titles but he would like to have a couple of local bouts and then try his luck against a really tough opponent.

“I’m a big fan of contact sports in general — boxing, wrestling, MMA,” Lee said. “I’ve always hung out in a gym, messed around. I’m very comfortable with boxers and boxing in general.”

Asked if he’s afraid he might forget and try to kick Bozeman during his boxing match, Lee laughed and said, “No, I can switch.”