The Night I Fought: Jesse James Leija

**Mark TKO** · 11-28-2018 02:40 PM

Your best boxing insights come with your cut and paste skills Master. Keep them up.

True story. My first trip to Vegas I asked Leija to take a photo of me by the Lewis Tua ring display in mandalay Bay reception. Just thought he was hanging round like me. I had no idea who he was by sight but knew him by name. When I saw him fight later that night on undercard I realised. Forget who his opponent was but he won a decision I think...

**Master** · 11-28-2018 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Mark TKO

Your best boxing insights come with your cut and paste skills Master. Keep them up.

True story. My first trip to Vegas I asked Leija to take a photo of me by the Lewis Tua ring display in mandalay Bay reception. Just thought he was hanging round like me. I had no idea who he was by sight but knew him by name. When I saw him fight later that night on undercard I realised. Forget who his opponent was but he won a decision I think...

It was Ivan Robinson which is a good win on paper but Robinson's best wins were past him by then.

I am glad Jesse James Leija has respect for Azumah Nelson since he fought him 4 times and Gabriel Ruelas was a top draw fighter.

**Mark TKO** · 11-29-2018 04:48 AM

That's right. I remember now. The guy who beat gatti

**mikeeod** · 11-29-2018 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by Master

Originally Posted by Mark TKO

Your best boxing insights come with your cut and paste skills Master. Keep them up.

True story. My first trip to Vegas I asked Leija to take a photo of me by the Lewis Tua ring display in mandalay Bay reception. Just thought he was hanging round like me. I had no idea who he was by sight but knew him by name. When I saw him fight later that night on undercard I realised. Forget who his opponent was but he won a decision I think...

It was Ivan Robinson which is a good win on paper but Robinson's best wins were past him by then.

I am glad Jesse James Leija has respect for Azumah Nelson since he fought him 4 times and Gabriel Ruelas was a top draw fighter.

I thought both Ruelas brothers were going to be p4p guys, but then Raf pissed off Oscar and Gabe killed Jimmy Garcia. Of the two, I think Gabe was the better fighter. Leija doesn’t really say much about it in that article, but Gabe fought like a man possessed that night. Jesse always gave a solid effort, glad to see he isn’t bitter.

**Master** · 11-29-2018 12:51 PM

Gabe was a level above Jessie and I do not know why he gave Azumah problems that it required 4 fights. Nelson was an elite level fighter.

**Spicoli** · 11-29-2018 06:11 PM

Leija holds a special place in my heart for finally exposing Camacho Jr and forcing him to 'opt out'

. In fairness and ironically though his next fight out cut 'w' vs Micky Ward was bs. I remember after he tore up Troy Dorsey I added his draw with Pee Wee Parker to a trade list and was informed by a then "boxing nerd" who thought he knew it all

that Leija couldn't break eggs and wasn't going anywhere. Whoops on that! He really was a guy who maximized his gifts, never really stellar in one particularly area but very capable in all of them. I had him 1-3 with Nelson and remember him being pretty bitter after that draw. Just thinking of his superb win over Ruelas..he really was on top of his game..makes you yearn for those PPV cards again!! Absolutely stacked card, all title fights so deep that Finito Lopez was buried on it.

It's always refreshing to find a dedicated fighter who went through some hard knocks, had ups and downs land on his feet after retirement and find-make success still sharing in the sport. Nice find on the article bud.