ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. Arturo Gatti will defend his WBC super lightweight title against two-time former champion James Leija on Jan. 29. The thirty-two-year-old Gatti, 38-6 with 29 knockouts, won the title last Jan. 24 when he decisioned Italian Gianluca Branco. He kept the crown in July with a one-punch knockout of previously unbeaten Leonard Dorin. Leija, thirty-eight, is 47-6-2 with 18 knockouts. The scheduled 12-round bout is to be telecast as part of HBO's "World Championship Boxing Series.'' Leija earned his title shot with a victory over former Olympian phenom Francisco "Panchito" Bojado. Leija also ran undisputed light welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu close in January 2003.
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