Brandun Lee trying to find balance in more ways than one

Boxing

By Jared Schwartz

April 8, 2023 | 8:00am

Brandun Lee is still trying to find a critical balance in his career. 

The former 2021 Prospect of the Year has raced out to a 27-0 record to start his fast-rising career after turning pro at just 17 years old. 

Now 23, Lee is already starting to put himself in position to challenge for title opportunities and take on some of the elite boxers in the super lightweight division. 

Knocking out 16 of his last 18 opponents, Lee is beginning to creep closer to the Top 10 in most of the division’s rankings. 

He likely can get there with another victory as he next takes on veteran Pedro Campa (34-2-1) in a significant step-up bout, in terms of his opponent’s talent and stature. 

The 10-round super lightweight bout will be the co-main event on Showtime’s Sebastian Fundora-Brian Mendoza card Saturday night (10 p.m. Eastern) from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. 

A Yuba City, Calif. native, it’ll be a hometown fight for Lee. 

As he looks to continue his ascension against the best opponent he’s faced so far, finding a balance between taking on better and better opponents that help him climb the rankings and not rushing the process before he’s ready is paramount to his much-anticipated development.   

“We certainly have to take baby steps,” Lee told The Post. “A lot of the world champions at 140 [pounds] are all grown men. They’re full, developed, grown men. They’re all either in their late 20s or early 30s. I’m barely gonna be 24 years old.

“I’m getting there, but at the same time we’ve got to take baby steps to let my body fully mature and sooner or later, we’re going to have no choice but to challenge one of those world champions.”

Lee’s career inside the ring isn’t the only thing he has to balance. 

He’s also a part-time college student at California State University, San Bernardino, where he studies criminal justice. 

 After putting down the gloves, Lee envisions himself working as a customs agent. 

“Me going to school now, it’s helping me in the boxing ring because it’s keeping my mind always working and not getting lazy,” Lee said. “And I’m always learning something new…  I get bored very easily. When I’m not training, I’m not running, I’m not doing yoga, I’m doing some damn homework or writing a damn essay. It keeps me in a straight line, it keeps me out of trouble and most importantly, it’s getting me one step closer to a bachelor’s degree.”

While finding that balance in both his career and personal life,…