JESSE JAMES LEIJA

PROFILE AND BIO

For the average boxer, a career may only last a few years. But, Jesse James Leija is far from average, and amazingly, the junior welterweight contender has remained near or at the top of the boxing game for almost sixteen years. Now at 38 years old, he pursues yet another title. Leija has shown he is till a legitimate contender and boxing fans expect that the best may be yet to come.

In his pro debut in October 1988, he stopped Oscar Davis in a single round. Fourteen consecutive wins followed before Leija and Edward Parker fought to a disputed ten round draw in October 1990.

Undeterred, Leija ran off another unbeaten streak, this one of 11 fights. Included in these wins was a ten-round decision over 1984 Olympic Gold Medallist, Steve McCrory in October 1991, and a nine-round technical decision over Jose Luis Martinez in March 1992 that earned the Texan his first title, the NABF featherweight crown.

Two fights later, Jesse James Leija emerged victorious over former world champion, Troy Dorsey via a 6th round TKO. It was one of the most important wins of his career. "Troy Dorsey tested my heart that night," remembered Leija. "Because there were times when I was thinking that I couldn't go on, but I kept going and I won the fight by knockout."

In March 1993, Leija defended his NABF title for the first and only time with a 12-round decision win over another world champion, Louie Espinoza.

While beating former world champions was good, beating a current one would be even better, and in September 1993, Leija would get his chance against the legendary Ghana warrior, WBC Super Featherweight Champion, Azumah Nelson. They put on one of the best fights of 1993, but unfortunately for Leija, a late rally allowed Nelson to eke out a disputed 12-round draw and retain his title.

Disappointed, Leija accepted the judges' verdict with his characteristic class and jumped back into the ring knocking out Tomas Valdez in three rounds.

Leija got his rematch with Nelson in May 1994 and this time, left no doubts, knocking Nelson down in the 2nd round en route to a decisive 12-round unanimous decision and his first world title.

Leija's reign was short-lived though, as challenger, Gabriel Ruelas took his title via a unanimous decision in September 1994. Both fighters hit the canvas, but when Jesse James tore ligaments in his ankle when he was knocked down, his fate was sealed. Injured and without his title, Leija was forced to the sidelines for close to eight months while he recuperated from his ankle injury.

Leija returned in May 1995 with a decision win over Jeff Mayweather, and followed that up with a 7th round knockout of Rodney Garnett before moving up to lightweight to challenge WBO Champion, Oscar De La Hoya in December 1995. Outsized by the naturally bigger De La Hoya, Jesse James was stopped in two rounds.

Six months later in June 1995, his rubber match with Azumah Nelson didn't go much better, as he was TKO'd in six rounds.

Discouraged, he took time to adjust to his new weight class and worked even harder in the gym. The results showed in the ring.

Seven consecutive victories followed including a 12-round win over Joel Perez for the NABF title and a decisive unanimous decision over Nelson in their fourth bout.

In November 1998, Leija was awarded a shot at rising star, Shane Mosley in a 12-rounder for Mosley's IBF lightweight title. He gave Mosley one of his toughest battles before succumbing to the young superstar in the ninth round. Despite his strong effort, Leija was all but written off by the boxing media who felt that he had seen better days. They had no idea that Jesse James Leija was just getting started and that his motivation now was to get back to the top.

Coming back with a 10-round decision win over Verdell Smith in August 1999, Leija got back to basics and won two more low-profile bouts before being put in with top prospect, Juan Lazcano in August 2000. In one of the most controversial decisions of the year, Lazcano was awarded a split decision. Even in defeat, Leija seemed to gain more fans that believed he could turn back the clock.

A win over well-regarded Ivan Robinson three months later continued Leija's resurgence, and after he stopped Fred Ladd in three rounds in January 2001, another highly touted prospect was put in front of the seasoned Texan.

This time it was unbeaten Hector Camacho, Jr. Leija took the fight to the green prospect at the opening bell, and shook him along the ropes as the round ended. Unfortunately, a seemingly non-dangerous cut suffered by Camacho Jr. forced the bout to the scorecards, where Camacho Jr. was initially announced the winner. Cooler heads later prevailed and the verdict was changed to a no contest.

Seemingly unable to get a break in the ring, Leija again had a cut determine his future when an exciting contest with Micky Ward in January 2002 was sent to the judges after the fifth round due to a nasty cut incurred by Leija. This time though, the San Antonio native got his break when he won a deserved decision over Ward.

That win earned Leija another world title shot, this one against undisputed junior welterweight champion, Kostya Tszyu. Despite fighting on Tszyu's home turf of Melbourne, Australia, he gave the champion all he could handle in January 2003. But with the fight very close through the early rounds, Leija severely injured his eardrum and was retired by his corner, giving Tszyu the sixth round TKO victory.

He got back in action in May 2003 with a four round blowout of Adan Casillas. Another highly regarded fighter, Fernando Mena, was next, and in November 2003, Leija only needed two rounds to dispose of his foe.

Jesse James opened up 2004 in April with a clear cut eight-round technical decision over Marteze Logan in a bout that was halted when headbutts opened cuts on Leija.

Though this may be his final run, the 38-year old Leija is primed to give it his best shot, a fact that was borne out when he decisioned hot prospect Francisco Bojado over ten rounds in July 2004.

Leija's next bout on January 29, 2005 is sure to be one of the highlights of his career when he takes on Arturo Gatti for the WBC super lightweight championship title.