Boxing

 

10 DAYS TO TSZYU-LEIJA!

By Tony Nobbs

08.01 - Former WBC Super Featherweight Champion Jesse James Leija flew into Melbourne on Monday morning knowing that he is given little chance by the majority of the boxing world to upset Undisputed Super Lightweight Champion Kostya Tszyu (29-1-1, 23 KO) when the pair square of at the Telstra Dome on Sunday Afternoon, January 19, but that might be a good thing. He can enjoy himself .

Leija, 36, arrived in town with a team of four including reknowned cutman Joe Souza, and with eight pounds to still take off, has been working out at the Underworld Gym in the city while Tszyu,33, who arrived in Melbourne on Sunday is using the actual fight ring in private set up in a gym at the fight venue. The Challenger is expected to find a new place to train today and has said he wants use of the same ring Tszyu has. "We all know I'm supposed to come in and lose to Kostya. I'm supposed to come in and get knocked out. So I have no pressure" said the San Antonio native known as The Texas Tornado, who reigned as a World Titlist for four months in 1994.

"All I have to do is go out there and fight. He has all the pressure. I know for a fact, that there's nothing I have not seen in the ring before that Kostya can show me. You can't find another fighter who has fought he kind of fighter's I have" continued Leija, who has mixed it with legends such as Delahoya, Mosley, Nelson and a number of quality champions and contenders in a pro career dating back to 1988. Leija added that he has "All the respect in the world for Kostya" saying that he knew from first seeing the Champion make his American debut (against Steve Larrimore in Memphis, 1993, KO 2) that Tszyu was going to be special. "I can't remember the fight, but he looked great then and you know, I was right, because he turned out to be a great fighter. He's a World Champion, a (future) Hall of Famer".

With a record of 43-5-2-1 NC and 17 KO'S, Leija is currently rated # 4 by the WBC while the WBA and IBF have him at fourteen and twelve respectively. The WBC listing is the most accurate, this writer would have him probably the fifth best 140 pounder going around, behind Tszyu, Sharmba Mitchell, Zab Judah and Arturo Gatti. He has not lost since dropping a split decision over ten rounds to top Lightweight contender Juan Lazcano in August 2000 and is coming of a controversial Technical decision over Mickey Ward in his last start over 12 months ago. Tszyu, who at 5'7 holds a two inch height advantage over Leija was last in action in May winning a decisive twelve round decision over Ben Tackie. Leija has employed former Tszyu sparring partner and WBA #6 Welterweight contender Golden Johnson (Leija says no big deal,he has worked with Johnson many times) while Tszyu has worked with capable Mexican Jose Luis Juarez among others.

With organisers hopeful of a record crowd of around 45,000, domestic PPV coverage begins at 11 am. Other bouts on the bill, 2000 Olympic Gold Medallist Muhummad Abdulleauv v ex IBF 135 lb Champion Philip Holiday at Super Lightweight, Ruslan Chagev v David Vedder at Heavyweight, WBC # 8 Lt Heavy Paul Briggs v Brad Mc Neil, IBF # 11 Super Middleweight Danny Green v Brad Mayo, WBC # 3 Super Bantamweight Nedal Hussein v Samson Elnino, IBF # 15 Super Featherweight Gairy St Clair v Mick O'Malley, WBO #14 Alex Trofinov v Paul Smallman at Lt Heavyweight,WBO # 8 Kunu Toygonbayev v Alfonso Mosquera, Super Welter's and local Lt Heavyweight prospect Tim Bell v TBA.
In other Australian news, National Cruiserweight Champion Simon Patterson challenges for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific against former Australian Lt Heavyweight Title holder Peter Kariuki at the Southport RSL on Febuary 7, televised by Foxsports.

In other bouts on the Jamie Myer promoted bill, IBF #15 Bantamweight Nathan Sting meets Fijian puncher Vinnu Singh, Bob Mirovic defends his Australian Heavyweight Belt against Phil Gregory and nationally rated #4 Super Middleweight Juarne Dowling meets Joel Burke. Dowling had been hoping to challenge Marc Bagero for his Australian Title but Bagero has accepted a challenge from Shannan Taylor penned for Febuary 21 at Penrith Panther Leagues Club in Sydney. Taylor, the PABA Super Welterweight Champion is using the Bagero fight to gain a rating at 168 lb to set up a possible fight
with WBA #7 Anthony Mundine.

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