Lee Markham [11-1-0]

Essex's Lee Markham may finally be on the verge of the tests that he craves, but he's not looking beyond his upcoming fight with Bradley Pryce. Lee took the time out to talk to BoxingQnA.com to give an update on his progress, career direction, his thoughts on the domestic scene, and his readiness for Bradley Pryce on September 27th.

You've boxed at middleweight a couple of times and even won a title at that weight, but now it seems you're looking to campaign at super-middleweight. Is that a case of you physically maturing and feeling more comfortable at super-middle?

Yeah, it is as you say, physically maturing and I do feel a lot stronger at super-middleweight. I know a lot of fighters boil down as much as possible in order to fight in as low a weight division as they can, but I'm happier being at my natural weight. My punching power is better and I think that shows with the stoppages I've been getting since moving up in weight.

Is Chris Eubank Jr. still a fight that you could see yourself dropping back down to middleweight for at this point?

Yeah, although if there was a big fight on offer against him or anyone else, I would drop down to middleweight. Speaking of Chris Eubank Jr. though, I don't think it will be that long until he ends up at super-middleweight himself anyway.

I remember you were once offered a fight with John Ryder at very short notice. So that's another fight you would jump at the chance to fight him if a sensible offer came in and that you actually had some time to prepare for the fight?

Yeah, the offer wasn't right and was at short notice as well. It's up to my manager, Steve Goodwin, who I fight and when. I just keep training, ensuring I'm in the best shape I can possibly be in and I'm sure that a big fight will come soon.

What are your thoughts on the domestic scene at the moment?

I think there are a lot of big fights to come at both middleweight and super-middle. There are plenty of big names on the domestic scene when you look at the top 10 in Britain. I also definitely believe that I will be in the mix and involved in big domestic fights in the near future.

I know it's cliche, but it was always said you had a pro style back in the amateurs. So with that in mind, since turning pro, would you say that your boxing development has been more about refining your style, rather than having to make many adjustments?

Yeah, I like to come forward with a tight guard. I try to get hit as less as possible and to pick my moments to show aggression. When I look at Miguel Cotto, I see similarities with my style. I like to make a fight of it and I believe that's what the fans like to see, too. After three years into your pro boxing learning curve, are you happy with where you are skill-level wise?

Yeah, I feel as though I have made a lot progress, although I'm definitely still learning even now and each fight is a part of the learning curve. I'm definitely not the finished article. I'm coming up to 27 in age and feel it's at 30 that I will be in my prime.

You've shown a little bit of everything in your fights. We've seen you comfortable on the backfoot on couple of occasions, comfortable dictating the pace, as well as outclassing opponents on the inside and hurting guys with your trademark body shots, too. It just seems that only are you providing great entertainment, but you're also demonstrating how well-rounded a fighter you are.

It's easy for fighters to have a look at your fights on YouTube to try and suss you out, so I like to show plenty of variety. I do believe that my boxing ability is underrated. I do come forward a lot, but I can also outbox my opponent on the backfoot if need be. I also like to have plenty of variety in my shot selection.

Speaking of those body shots, I know that you even liked to throw them in the amateurs. Are those angles that you have always had a knack for, or were you inspired to become a potent body-puncher?

I remember my first ever sparring session as an amateur and I was in with someone a lot more experienced than myself. They were told to take it easy on me, but I remember getting hit with a body shot from him and it made me feel sick. My appreciation for body shots has been ever since then. When you take a head shot, you can usually clear your head within x amount of seconds, but it's different with body shots as when they land correctly, it's hard to recover from them. Working the body is also something that has always been drummed into me by my trainer, Lenny Butcher. He's big on body punching.

What's it like working with Lenny Butcher?

He's like family to me. We have a close relationship and we also gel really well. He's a fantastic trainer and a fantastic person.

Are you content with your career progress as a pro? Obviously you've picked up 4 master titles, you've completed 10 rounds at a good tempo, and you're progressing in the British rankings. Are you content with where you are overall?

Yeah, I'm happy. I think I am managed well and that I have a good team around me. Apparently I am now the mandatory challenger for the Southern Area title, so that has got to be the next step. Obviously I've got the Bradley Pryce fight to come through, but if I come through unscathed, then the Southern Area title would be something to push on for next. On the subject of you being the mandatory challenger for Frank Buglioni's Southern Area title. Not to look beyond Bradley Pryce, because he's obviously a good fighter in his own right, but did it excite you to hear that news? I don't want to disrespect Bradley Pryce as I rate him to be just as good a fighter as Frank Buglioni. I've been training hard and taking Pryce very seriously. As for the prospect of meeting Buglioni though, we met as amateurs and I think that the fight would be good viewing. There is no bad blood there, but our styles gel really well. We're both aggressive, come-forward fighters, so it could be really great to watch.

Bradley Pryce is of course a really solid gatekeeper who's very durable and more technically sound than people give him credit for. He has given a good account of himself against plenty of big names, so are you looking forward to showing how can you perform against that calibre of opponent?

Yeah, he's a bit underrated for sure and is very rarely stopped. He has been in with big names and my aim is to make a statement with my performance..

How's the preparation going?

Yeah, I train all year around, but things have been going really well in camp. I have also been doing a lot of conditioning and track work with Dan Harding. I know you said earlier in the year that you had Rocky Fielding in your sights. Whether it's Fielding or Buglioni that you hopefully end up getting in with soon, it seems a signal of intent on your part. Is it fair to say that you have now reached a point where you are very eager to get in there and mix it up with the Best in Britain, boxing politics permitting of course? I don't get a lot of tv coverage, but everyone who comes to the shows know what I'm doing and how I'm progressing. I actually wanted fights against the top guys on the domestic scene two years ago, but who knows, I could have lost back then. I had faith in my team to know when the time was right and now it looks as though those fights will be coming soon.

Do you have a message to your fans?

Thank you for following me, keep following me. I know I'm going to be involved in some big and entertaining fights soon. Thank you for sticking by me.

Any final words or shout-outs, Lee?

I want to thank my sponsor, Martin Gowing. As well as my team, Steve Goodwin, Lenny Butcher, Ian Wilson, Dan Harding, and Dominic Negus.