Brandun Lee sparred against world boxing champion Timothy Bradley Jr. and was a junior national champion before turning professional three years ago as a 17-year-old senior at La Quinta High School. He was one of the top amateurs in the world, yet the initial plan for him was to begin his pro career very slowly.

Lee’s dad, Bobby, who doubles as his trainer, and his promoter — renown boxing manager Cameron Dunkin — didn’t want to give the young boxer too much too fast. Countless others have ruined careers trying to conquer the world too quickly, and Dunkin knew better than to rush things for a kid he believed was extraordinary in the ring.

The Lees had opportunities to sign with much bigger promoters, for more money, but they believed Dunkin’s approach was different and smart. So, they bought in.

Now, the waiting, all three believe, is about to pay off. Lee (16-0, 14 knockouts) will make his Showtime Boxing television debut on the ShowBox: The Next Generation on Friday evening in Midland, Texas.

“Even the average hardcore fight fan might not know Brandun Lee at this point, but after Friday night, that will be a different story,” Showtime boxing analyst Steve Farhood said. “This, by itself, will elevate his career.”

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The bout, against Nicaragua’s Milton Arauz (10-1-1, 5 KOs), will be the first test for Lee, who has not fought anyone with a winning record. As a result, the junior welterweight has steamrolled his opponents, with nine of his 13 knockouts coming in the first round.

Dunkin says that Lee has been capable of taking on more legitimate opponents but waiting until he was more physically mature was the plan, and they never wavered.

“When he came to me, we made a deal that we would go slow,” Dunkin said. “That was the plan. Now he’s 20, and I made a deal with Showtime, and he’s ready to show everybody what he’s got.”

For Lee, who recorded an amateur record of 181-9 and hasn’t lost a bout since 2014, when competing at the Junior Olympics in Charleston, W.Va., having patience with the process wasn’t always easy. He’s wanted high-stakes bouts all along, and now that he finally has one, he says he isn’t taking the opportunity lightly.

“I’ve always wanted a challenge, going back to the amateur days when we would go to the tournaments,” Lee said. “We’ll fight the best of the best and we’ll be ready for this fight.”

In his pro career, Lee has fought in small venues across the country. He’s been on cards in Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Colorado and Arizona. He’s fought four times this year and has recorded four knockout victories.

But because Lee has not fought anyone of consequence, Dunkin says that some observers remain skeptical about Lee’s chances of becoming a star. Fighting no-names for three years can cause a fighter to develop bad habits and a false sense of assurance, Farhood notes.

“When he starts knocking out winners,” Farhood said, “then I’ll be impressed.”

Farhood, though, is among those who believe Lee could be a star in the making. Part of that is because of Lee’s power, boxing ability and quick hands, but also because of his size and the divisions that he’s expected to fight in during his career.

Lee is currently in the 140-pound junior welterweight division, though with his 5-foot-11 frame he could eventually rise to middleweight. Welterweight and middleweight divisions draw the most stars in the sport, meaning Lee could eventually land big-name opponents if he can navigate the early part of his career appropriately.

In an effort to do that, Lee’s dad sends him to Indio Boys & Girls Club to spar with some of the best younger fighters in the sport. Renown trainer Joel Diaz has Olympians and some boxers who he believes will be future world champions, and Lee has faced them all in sparring sessions.

“He’s getting better all the time and he’s just getting started,” Diaz said. “By the time he’s 23 or 24, he’ll be established in the sport, and he’s going to be a big name.”

As a pro, Lee says he’s learned to be more patient in the ring, to sit down on his punches — which gives him even more power — and to preserve energy in case a bout goes beyond the first couple rounds.

Lee, his dad and his promoter all believed he was ready to fight on television but had to convince television executives who had never heard of him, let alone seen him fight. Dunkin, who has managed 35 world champions during his career, used some of that clout to sway Stephen Espinoza, the president of Showtime Sports.

Espinoza trusted Dunkin’s judgement and eventually put Lee on Friday’s card. He said that if Dunkin was that excited about Lee, then Espinoza is, too, even without seeing much of him.

Dunkin says he’s certain that Espinoza won’t regret it and thinks Lee will be one of boxing’s top prospects after Friday.

“This is the start of everybody knowing who he is,” Dunkin said.

“His dad’s done his job, I’ve done mine, now it’s up to Brandun to go show off for us and make us look really, really smart – and I think he will.”

Andrew John covers sports in the Coachella Valley and beyond for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Find him on Twitter: @Andrew_L_John