Boxing

GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS INKS JESSE JAMES LEIJA

FORMER WORLD CHAMPION JOINS BARRERA, LARIOS, AND A TEAM OF RISING STARS UNDER LOS ANGELES BASED PROMOTER’S BANNER

LOS ANGELES, August 5 – Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions is pleased to announce that former world super featherweight champion and current junior welterweight contender Jesse James Leija has signed a deal to be promoted by the Los Angeles-based company as he seeks another world title in the talent-rich 140-pound division.

"Jesse James Leija is a true warrior and one of the class acts in the game," said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya. "I am very excited to have him on my team, and I am honored to help him on his quest to become a world champion again. I believe he has the skills and desire to do it."

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Leija joins world champions Marco Antonio Barrera and Oscar Larios on the Golden Boy Promotions team of fighters, lending credence to the reputation the company is developing as a fighters’ promotional firm.

"Oscar knows what it’s like to be a fighter and the issues we have to deal with," said Leija. "I feel comfortable with him and his company representing me, and it will allow me to focus on my goals in the ring without any distractions."

A crowd-pleasing fighter for his entire 15-year career, Leija (44-6-2, 18 KOs) holds 14 wins over world-rated contenders and four victories over former world champions. Leija is most noted for his epic four-fight series against the legendary Azumah Nelson, in which Leija won two, lost one and had one draw (2-1-1). He has also battled legendary champions Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley and Kostya Tszyu in world title fights.

After a controversial no contest with Hector Camacho, Jr. in 2001 and then a victory over world contender Micky Ward in 2002, Leija climbed back to the #3 WBC world contender’s position, earning a shot at Kostya Tszyu and his undisputed world junior welterweight title on January 19, 2003.

In his last fight (May 22, 2003), Leija rebounded from his loss to Tszyu with an impressive fourth round knockout victory over Adan Casillas on HBO Latino.

Leija is also very active in the community, and he is the founder of the Jesse James Leija Youth Foundation.

"I look at what a fighter does outside the ring, as well as what he does inside it," said De La Hoya. "Jesse James Leija is a pillar of his community and the perfect role model for young people. That type of character definitely influenced my decision to sign him for Golden Boy Promotions."

Leija is currently ranked ninth in the world by the WBC and IBF. Golden Boy Promotions hopes to have him back in action later this year against a top ten opponent to be determined.

As one of the sport’s most active promoters, Golden Boy Promotions has over 40 shows scheduled in 2003, with many to be televised on networks such as HBO Latino, Telefutura, and ESPN.

Leija joins featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera, WBC super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios, WBC #1 ranked lightweight Juan Lazcano, WBC and WBO #4 ranked super bantamweight Israel Vazquez, and WBO #2 ranked super lightweight sensation Kelson Pinto, as well as up and coming prospects such as WBC youth lightweight champ ‘Mighty’ Mike Anchondo (world ranked by the WBC, WBA, and WBO), NABO super flyweight champion Jose Navarro (ranked #5 by the WBO, #7 by the WBA, and #11 by the WBC), #15 WBC ranked junior welterweight Juan Valenzuela, WBO #10 ranked bantamweight Carlos Madrigal, WBC youth super middleweight champ Enrique Andrade (ranked #14 by the WBO), unbeaten Librado Andrade, and two-time Argentine Olympian Guillermo Saputo, on the Golden Boy Promotions’ team of fighters.

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