Top Rank patient with hard-hitting Lee

The hard-hitting light heavyweight fights for only the fourth time since turning pro in May 2009 when he faces Pablo Gomez in a four-round bout Saturday at the Palms.

“I’m OK with the way they’re bringing me along,” Lee said of Top Rank, which signed him out of Notre Dame and has him working in Houston with veteran trainer Ronnie Shields. “I know it’s a learning process. They want to put me on big cards so I’m getting some valuable experience, which will help me down the road.

“But I think this year is going to be a big year for me. I’m going to fight a six-rounder later this year, and I hope I can get on a regular schedule. Four or five fights, I think that will be realistic.”

When he has fought, Lee (3-0, two knockouts) has looked impressive. He destroyed Alex Rivera with a second-round technical knockout Sept. 11 at the Palms. His most recent fight was on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito fight Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium. Lee battered Keith Debow, scoring a first-round TKO. Now, he returns to the Palms as part of the card that will feature Brandon Rios and Miguel Acosta meeting for the WBO lightweight title.

Lee, 23, said he has been working on sharpening his jab and using it more effectively with his combinations.

“I’m seeing progress,” Lee said. “My dad came down to watch me spar, and he hadn’t seen me in a few months. He said my reaction was better, my speed was better. That was very encouraging hearing that from him.”

■ MAYORGA LICENSED — The Nevada Athletic Commission approved Ricardo Mayorga for a license, and he promised he will test clean for his March 12 fight against WBA super welterweight champion Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden.

In 2006, Mayorga tested positive for Furosemide, a banned diuretic, after his fight with Oscar De La Hoya at the Grand Garden. He was fined $50,000 and suspended for eight months.

The NAC also licensed female boxers Christy Martin and Dakota Stone, who will meet on the undercard of Cotto-Mayorga. Both fighters are 42 years old, and Martin’s health was a concern after a November attack by her husband in which she was shot and stabbed.

■ GUTIERREZ BANNED — In one of the quickest disciplinary hearings in recent memory, the NAC on Wednesday suspended Jesus Gutierrez for eight months and fined him $400 after he tested positive for the diuretic Bumetanide following his Jan. 7 lightweight fight at Cox Pavilion against Franky Martinez.

The commission took about 10 minutes to reach its decision after Gutierrez admitted he took the drug following the weigh-in the day before, even though he made weight for the fight.

Gutierrez’s four-round unanimous decision was changed to a no contest.

■ COSMO FIGHTS — The recently opened Cosmopolitan will host its first boxing show March 25 with Seminole Warriors Boxing promoting a card from the Chelsea Ballroom. The Cosmo also will be the site of an April 29 card on the hotel’s pool deck. Both dates will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

“We’re very excited about coming to this venue,” Warriors executive director Leon Margules said. “They intend to become big-time involved in boxing.”

■ PACQUIAO UNDERCARD — Top Rank chairman Bob Arum on Saturday announced the first two undercard fights for the May 7 welterweight title showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand Garden, and both will be title bouts.

In a rematch of Dec. 4, Humberto Soto will defend his WBC lightweight title against Urbano Antillon. Soto (54-7-2, 32 KOs) took a 12-round decision from Antillon (28-2, 20 KOs) in what several Internet sites voted the fight of the year. The rematch is set for 12 rounds.

In the other fight, also a 12-rounder, Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. (20-0-1, 17 KOs) will defend his WBO junior featherweight belt against five-time world champion Jorge Arce (56-6-2, 43 KOs).

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.