Jesse James Leija


James Leija, best known as Jesse James Leija, is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2005. He held the WBC super featherweight title in 1994, and challenged twice each for world titles at lightweight and light welterweight.

Amateur career

Leija had an amateur career that spanned three years, going 23-5 during this time. He won the San Antonio Golden Gloves in 1988. Later that year he lost in the first rounds of the Olympic Trials to Kelcie Banks.

Professional career

Jesse James Leija began his professional boxing career on October 2, 1988, beating Oscar Davis by knockout in round one, in Leija's native San Antonio. When he turned professional he took the name "Jesse James" in honor of his father, Jesse Leija, who trained him.
On January 21, 1989, he defeated Joe Mitchell by a decision in four at the Trump Plaza hotel in New Jersey. This marked Leija's debut outside Texas. On his fourth fight, Leija beat Manuel Gomez in San Antonio by decision in four, on April 10.
During the early 1990s, Leija won his first fifteen fights, ten by knockout. His first blemish came on October 8, 1990, when he and Edward Parker fought to a ten-round draw in San Antonio, TX.
Leija won his next three bouts, and then, he had an upgrade in opposition quality when he met the experienced Miguel Arrozal, on May 31, 1991. He beat Arrozal by an eighth-round disqualification. On October 18, he met Steve McCrory in Houston, beating McCrory by a ten-round decision.
Leija got his first championship try on the fight that proceeded his win over McCrory. On March 3, 1992. He met Jose Luis Martinez for the North American Boxing Federation bantamweight championship. This fight was held in San Antonio, and it resulted in a nine-round technical decision.
Leija proceeded to win three bouts, two of them against former world champions. Having defeated Jesus Poll by a decision in twelve rounds and Troy Dorsey by a knockout in six, he was matched, on March 23, 1993, with Louie Espinoza, a former two-time world featherweight champion. Leija won this fight by a twelve-round decision, and with this, the NABF title and the right to challenge for the world title for the first time.

Title fights against Nelson

On September 10, 1993, Leija participated at one of the Alamodome's first ever events, when he challenged Azumah Nelson for the WBC super featherweight title. After twelve rounds, Nelson had been announced as the winner by a split decision, only to find out twenty minutes later that a judge had miscalculated his scoring card, and the fight was really a draw.
On May 7, he got a rematch with Nelson. Leija became the WBC super featherweight champion when he defeated Nelson by a twelve-round unanimous decision in Las Vegas.

Losing the title and afterwards

On September 17, he defended his title against Gabriel Ruelas, once again, in Las Vegas. Leija lost his world title when he lost to Ruelas by a twelve-round unanimous decision.
Leija rebounded with two wins, including one over Jeff Mayweather, and then, on December 15, 1995, he received a chance at becoming world champion for the second time, when he challenged Oscar De La Hoya for De La Hoya's WBO lightweight title, at Madison Square Garden. He lost by second-round knockout.
On June 1, 1996, Leija challenged Nelson, who had regained the WBC super featherweight title. Leija lost by a tech. knockout in six.
After a string of wins against relatively insignificant competition, Leija won the NABF lightweight title, defeating Joel Perez by a decision in twelve rounds on January 20, 1998.
After a second-round knockout victory over Troy Crain, Leija fought Nelson for the fourth time. In what was supposed to be Nelson's final career bout, Leija defeated Nelson by a twelve-round unanimous decision on July 11, 1998.
On November 14, Leija had a shot at the IBF lightweight title when he faced Shane Mosley. Leija was dropped in rounds six, eight and nine before the fight was stopped, with Mosley retaining the world title by a ninth-round knockout win.
Leija's next significant bout came on August 5, 2000, when he fought Juan Lazcano. Although no world championship was involved in this bout, it created general interest among Hispanic boxing fans, as Lazcano, nicknamed "The Hispanic Causing Panic," had become a popular boxer among Latinos. Leija lost an unpopular dec. in a ten-round split decision to Lazcano in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Next followed another HBO televised fight, when Leija fought Ivan Robinson, who had twice beaten Arturo Gatti, on November 11 at Las Vegas. Leija beat Robinson by a ten-round unanimous decision.
After a victory over Fred Ladd, Leija faced Hector Camacho Jr. in Long Island, July 7, 2001. This would prove to be a very controversial fight: after an accidental headbutt, Camacho Jr. was injured and he could not fight on. Camacho Jr. was initially announced as the winner by a technical decision, but the Leija team formally protested the result with the New York State Athletic Commission. The athletic commission decided to declare the fight a five-round no contest.
Micky Ward was being considered for a fight with WBC, WBA and IBF world light welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu. On January 5, 2002, Leija and Ward faced off at San Antonio. Once again, the fight was stopped as a consequence of a headbutt, but this time, it was Leija who was injured. Leija won the fight by a five-round technical decision, and became the number-one challenger to Tszyu.
Leija then proceeded to move to Australia for six months, to get acquainted with the country and its climate before his challenge of Tszyu, scheduled for January 19, 2003. Tszyu retained the title when he beat Leija by a six-round knockout.
After three wins, Leija faced young prospect Francisco Bojado. Leija and Bojado fought on July 24, 2004, in Atlantic City. Leija produced what some viewed as a minor upset by beating his much younger rival by a ten-round split decision.

Final bout

On January 29, 2005, Leija fought Arturo Gatti for Gatti's WBC light welterweight title. Fighting once again in Atlantic City, Leija lost to Gatti by a fifth-round knockout. Leija retired after the loss.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
57Loss47–7–2 Arturo GattiKO5, 1:48Jan 29, 2005Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For WBC light welterweight title
56Win47–6–2 Francisco BojadoSD10Jul 24, 2004Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
55Win46–6–2 Marteze LoganTD8, 3:00Apr 30, 2004Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.Unanimous TD after Leija was cut from an accidental head clash
54Win45–6–2 Fernando MenaTKO2, 0:57Nov 15, 2003Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
53Win44–6–2 Adan CasillasTKO4, 0:57May 22, 2003SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
52Loss43–6–2 Kostya TszyuRTD6, 3:00Jan 19, 2003Telstra Dome, Melbourne, AustraliaFor WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring light welterweight titles
51Win43–5–2 Micky WardTD5, 3:00Jan 5, 2002Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.Split TD after Leija was cut from an accidental head clash
5042–5–2 Héctor Camacho Jr.TD3, 3:00Jul 7, 2001KeySpan Park, New York City, New York, U.S.Originally a unanimous TD win for Camacho, later ruled an NC after an incorrect timekeeper call
49Win42–5–2Fred LaddTKO3, 0:55Jan 7, 2001Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
48Win41–5–2Ivan RobinsonUD10Nov 11, 2000Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
47Loss40–5–2Juan Lazcano10Aug 5, 2000Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
46Win40–4–2Jorge Luis LopezKO3, 2:24Apr 14, 2000Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
45Win39–4–2Wayne BoudreauxTD5, 1:48Dec 2, 1999Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.Unanimous TD after Leija was cut from an accidental head clash
44Win38–4–2Verdell SmithUD10Aug 20, 1999Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
43Loss37–4–2Shane MosleyRTD9, 3:00Nov 14, 1998Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.For IBF lightweight title
42Win37–3–2Azumah NelsonUD12Jul 11, 1998Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.Won vacant IBA lightweight title
41Win36–3–2Troy CrainKO2, 2:22May 1, 1998Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
40Win35–3–2Joel PerezUD12Jan 20, 1998Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.Retained NABF lightweight title
39Win34–3–2Effie SchneiderUD10Nov 14, 1997South Padre Island, Texas, U.S.
38Win33–3–2Jose RodriguezUD8Jun 14, 1997Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
37Win32–3–2Joel PerezUD12Mar 22, 1997Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.Won vacant NABF lightweight title
36Win31–3–2Roberto AvilaUD10Dec 10, 1996Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
35Loss30–3–2Azumah NelsonTKO6, 1:58Jun 1, 1996Boulder Station Hotel Casino, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.For WBC super featherweight title
34Loss30–2–2Oscar De La HoyaRTD2, 3:00Dec 15, 1995Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.For WBO lightweight title
33Win30–1–2Rodney GarnettKO7, 2:12Jul 29, 1995Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
32Win29–1–2Jeff MayweatherUD10May 2, 1995Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
31Loss28–1–2Gabriel RuelasUD12Sep 17, 1994MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBC super featherweight title
30Win28–0–2Azumah NelsonUD12May 7, 1994MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won WBC super featherweight title
29Win27–0–2Tomas ValdezTKO3, 2:19Mar 23, 1994HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
28Draw26–0–2Azumah NelsonSD12Sep 10, 1993Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.For WBC super featherweight title
27Win26–0–1Louie EspinozaUD12Mar 23, 1993HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.Retained NABF featherweight title
26Win25–0–1Gabriel CastroUD10Dec 3, 1992HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
25Win24–0–1Troy Dorsey5, 3:00Oct 3, 1992HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
24Win23–0–1Jesus PollPTS10Jul 15, 1992HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
23Win22–0–1Jose Luis Martinez9 Mar 3, 1992HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.Won NABF featherweight title;
Unanimous TD after Leija was cut from an accidental head clash
22Win21–0–1Steve McCroryUD10Oct 18, 1991Holiday Inn William P. Hobby Airport, Houston Texas, U.S.
21Win20–0–1Silvestre CastilloTKO2, 2:32Aug 30, 1991Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
20Win19–0–1Miguel Arrozal8 May 31, 1991HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.Arrozal disqualified for repeated low blows
19Win18–0–1Rafael SolimanUD8Apr 19, 1991Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
18Win17–0–1Mark FernandezUD10Feb 25, 1991Holiday Inn William P. Hobby Airport, Houston Texas, U.S.
17Win16–0–1Felipe de JesusUD10Jan 7, 1991HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
16Draw15–0–1Edward Parker10Oct 8, 1990HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
15Win15–0Ricky AlvarezTKO1, 2:00Aug 13, 1990Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
14Win14–0Bobby McCarthyTKO5, 0:39Jul 16, 1990Dunes, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
13Win13–0Boyd GardnerUD6May 13, 1990Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
12Win12–0Roy MunizKO3Mar 25, 1990Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
11Win11–0Gary SpencerKO2Mar 15, 1990Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
10Win10–0Joe ThompsonTKO3Jan 8, 1990Tarrant County Convention Center, Forth Worth, Texas, U.S.
9Win9–0Carlos FloresKO4Dec 11, 1989Convention Center, Pasadena, Texas, U.S.
8Win8–0Tony De La Rosa1 Oct 16, 1989Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
7Win7–0Jaime CastellanoTKO3 Sep 11, 1989Circus Maximus Showroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
6Win6–0Capri LipkinUD6Jul 24, 1989Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
5Win5–0Chilo Guzman6May 29, 1989County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
4Win4–0Manuel GomezUD4Apr 10, 1989Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
3Win3–0Joe Mitchell4Jan 21, 1989Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
2Win2–0Martin MelendezTKO2, 1:36Nov 3, 1988Wyndham Hotel, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
1Win1–0Oscar Davis1, 1:05Oct 2, 1988Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.