James Leija​

A native of San Antonio and a Harlandale High School graduate, Jesse James Leija took up the sport of boxing late – at the age of 19 but rose to become the most accomplished professional boxer in San Antonio history. Leija won the WBC World Super Featherweight title in 1994 and then captured the IBA World Lightweight Championship in 1998, becoming San Antonio’s only two-time World Champion. He enjoyed a distinguished, 17-year professional career, finishing with an outstanding 47-7-2 record, included 9 World title bouts.

Leija fought ring legend and Boxing Hall of Famer, Azumah Nelson, four times – winning the epic series 2-1-1 and defeating Nelson for both his World titles. After stopping Nelson’s 13-year reign as World Champion in 1994, he was rated in Boxing’s Top Ten, Pound-for-Pound ratings (includes all weight divisions) by Ring Magazine, the only San Antonio boxer to ever receive such honor. He became an undefeated, 3-time North American Champion. In each case, he gave up his title to compete for a World title. In addition to his four fights with Nelson, he fought boxing superstars Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Kostya Tszyu, Gabe Ruelas and Arturo Gatti — all world champions and future Hall of Famers. He defeated 14 world-rated contenders, four world champions and three Olympians.

Leija was a house-hold name in boxing, having fought on national television over 50 times, including Pay-Per-View, HBO, Showtime, NBC, Univision, ESPN, USA Network, Telefutura, Sports Channel America, Madison Sq. Garden Network. He competed in the 1988 Olympic Trials as an amateur, losing in the semi-finals to amateur World Champion Kelsie Banks.