Jesse James Leija
| Jesse James Leija | |
|---|---|
Jesse James Leija in 2009
|
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | James Leija |
| Nickname(s) | The Texas Tornado |
| Rated at | Super Featherweight |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
July 8, 1966 San Antonio, Texas, USA |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 57 |
| Wins | 47 |
| Wins by KO | 19 |
| Losses | 7 |
| Draws | 2 |
| No contests | 1 |
James Leija (born July 8, 1966 and better known as Jesse James Leija), is a retired American professional boxer.
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.
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 Rudy Carmona 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, the former WBA bantamweight champion, 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 draw 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.
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