Brandun Lee has arrived In Las Vegas for Suday's Zuffa Boxing 08 armed with a perfect record of 30-0 and 23 knockouts to his name. The 27 year-old California native is in his tenth year as a pro, and he feels that Saturday’s showcase represents the perfect opportunity to finally put himself in the championship conversation at 147 pounds. The perennial prospect has only fought twice in the last three years due to promotional difficulties. He hopes Zuffa will end his inactivity issues, and Sunday's fight against "Sugar" Cain Sandoval will be his first test. After Sandoval's Zuffa Boxing debut didn’t go his way, the Californian is back, and hoping to put things right. The 23 year-old (17-1, 15 KOs) was defeated for the first time in his career when he was outpointed by Julian “Hammer Hands” Rodriguez at Zuffa Boxing 01 in January. Now, after taking some time to make some adjustments in the gym, Sandoval is ready to make his return in a bid to get back to winning ways.
Also on Sunday's Zuffa show, a little-known heavyweight propsect will fight in the preliminary portion of the show as Uzbekistan’s six-foot-eight Jakhongir Zokirov takes on American Zach Spiller. The two southpaws will go toe to toe as they look to build valuable experience in the Zuffa Boxing heavyweight division. Zokirov, 23, is 3-0 as a pro (including IBA pro fights), including a win over Agron Smakici. Now the Uzbek heavyweight, who trains out of the Brickhouse Boxing gym in Hollywood, California, will look to make a name for himself in the United States when he faces Spiller, who enters the bout with a 5-0 (4 KOs) record.
It’s been a minute since Lee was in the ring, but now the California native is ready to return, and he’s looking to get to the top quickly. Everything about Lee screams urgency. His answers are delivered with the speed and conviction of a man who knows exactly where he wants to be, and how quickly he wants to get there. Lee has signed with Zuffa Boxing and will make his return from a one-year hiatus when he takes on Sandoval in the main card opener of Zuffa Boxing 08, which takes place Sunday night at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
It’s a fresh start for the undefeated fighter, who wants to carry his talents all the way to the top of the welterweight division and sees Zuffa Boxing as the perfect place to achieve his goals. “I decided to join Zuffa because, I mean, who else is doing it like Zuffa right now? There's really nobody,” he said. "Zuffa is having two to three fights a month to find the best of the best, and that's what we want.”
The increased frequency of fights was also a draw for Lee, who is anxious to get back to a regular fighting schedule after just one fight since the summer of 2024. “Absolutely, 100 percent. Especially the past two years, I've only fought like one or two times, which is pathetic. I've been at home for so long that I taught my dog how to ride a motorcycle...check my Instagram!"
“So far, it’s great. I love it. Talking to you, talking amongst the other people, taking photos – I love it.”
By his own admission, his lack of activity over the last couple of years set him back somewhat. But now, with the promise of more regular competition, Lee is fired up to get back into the mix and build on his already-impressive record. "Once I knock out (Sandoval), I want to get right back in there, with the best of our best. Richardson Hitchins, Conor Benn, the dude that's fighting Richard Hitchens,“ he said.
Sandoval will be determined to bounce back following his unanimous decision loss to Julian “Hammer Hands” Rodriguez in the main event of Zuffa Boxing’s inaugural show back in January. Lee made clear that Sandoval’s motivations or form mean nothing to him. All he’s interested in is getting in the ring and getting the job done. “I give two s**** about the guy, if he lost, if he won. I don't care,” he said. “I'm one there to fight. I'm going there to win.”
Lee was visibly very happy as a result of the move up in weight to 147 pounds. “Look how I look right now,” he said. “My last fight, I was drained. I couldn't even talk to you right now. We're two days, three days away from the weigh-in, and I'm still eating dinner. I'm still having three meals a day. I'm still drinking water, so I feel great.”
Fully fuelled and motivated to make an impact, Lee is all set to make his Zuffa Boxing debut. And by way of a preview, the 27-year-old wrapped up his interview with a mission statement of sorts, as he described how he’ll attack the Zuffa Boxing welterweight division, the statement he’s planning to make on Sunday night, and what he wants to happen after his debut bout. “Whenever Brandun Lee fights, Brandun Lee puts on a great show, whether it's knockouts or a full boxing technician,” he stated. “This weekend, I plan on coming here to let everybody know at Zuffa, and let everybody know in the boxing world that Brandun Lee is back. Brandun Lee’s not f****** around this time.
