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Then-Undefeated Boxer Once Fought for the World Title While Battling Autoimmune Disorder Akin to Ashton Kutcher

Published 08/09/2022, 12:00 PM EDT

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Boxers have shown commendable resilience because of their passion for the sport. They put in tons of effort and go through grueling training. In fact, boxer Mike Lee fought Caleb Plant for a world title showdown while suffering from an autoimmune disorder.

Former financier turned boxer Lee had an impressive record of 21-0-0 before facing Plant in 2019. Meanwhile, in 2014, he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called Ankylosing Spondylitis. It is an inflammatory disease that can, over a period of time, cause the bones of the vertebrae to fuse.

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A post shared by Mike Lee (@officialmikelee)

Moreover, the excruciating pain also kept Lee from competing for nearly two years. He mentioned he had been managing the condition through nutrition, CBD, and heat/cold therapy. Additionally, Lee also stated that he uses visualization and meditates before matches to ensure optimum performance.

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Lee faced Plant at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 20, 2019. He was fighting for the IBF World Super Middleweight title that Plant held. However, he was unable to emerge victorious despite showcasing a commendable performance.

Plant won the bout by TKO in the 3rd round. Moreover, Plant went on to defend the title two more times before losing it to Canelo Alvarez at the same venue in 2021.

Ashton Kutcher also suffers from an autoimmune disorder

It is worth mentioning that Mike Lee is not the only notable name who suffers from an autoimmune disorder. In fact, Hollywood actor and producer, Ashton Kutcher, recently opened up about his struggle with the condition.

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A post shared by Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk)

Kutcher was in an interview ahead of his upcoming episode of National Geographic’s ‘Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge’. Talking about his condition, he said, “Like two years ago, I had this weird, super rare form of vasculitis, that like knocked out my vision, it knocked out my hearing, it knocked out like all my equilibrium.”

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Vasculitis is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the blood vessels, eventually leading to tissue and organ damage.

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WATCH THIS STORY-  Top 5 Fights on Which Boxing Fans Would Pay Anything to Watch …

What do you think of Lee’s struggle? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Joshua Ben Joseph

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Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer for EssentiallySports. He started his career as an editorial cartoonist and holds a BFA degree with a specialization in Animated Filmmaking and Screenwriting from AISFM, Hyderabad. An avid lover of boxing history, Joshua believes his writing extends his lifelong adoration for combat sports.
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Edited by:

Rohini Kottu