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03/25/2004 Archived Entry: "Leija Returns to Dodge on April 30th"
Leija Returns to Dodge on April 30th
HIDALGO, TEXAS - He is without question one of Texas’ most popular fighters ever, and his ring exploits have rightfully earned him a place among boxing’s elite. On Friday, April 30, two-time World Champion, Jesse James Leija’s amazing journey continues when he squares off against Marteze Logan in the main event when the Miller Lite Texas Title Belt, Professional Boxing Series returns to the Rio Grande Valley.
Leija vs Logan, which headlines an exciting night of boxing presented by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions in association with Miller Lite, will take place at Hidalgo, Texas’ new Dodge Arena, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
The event will be broadcast live on Telefutura Network's "Solo Boxeo" program, Friday, April 30, beginning at 8:00 p.m. (central time)
On January 16 of this year, a sellout crowd of 6,500 fight fans packed the Dodge Arena for a Golden Boy Promotions show featuring Fernando Montiel and Daniel Ponce DeLeon.
What more can be said about San Antonio’s Jesse James Leija, other than he is one of the best fighters of this recent era? A former WBC World Super Featherweight Champion, IBA World Lightweight Champion and three-time North American (NABF) Champion, Leija has fought at a high level throughout his career. He is perhaps best known for his classic four fight series with the legendary Azumah Nelson (who will be inducted into boxing’s hall of fame this June), which Leija went 2-1-1. Leija has also faced such standouts as Oscar De La Hoya, Kostya Tszyu, and Shane Mosley and has wins over 14 world contenders and four world champions.
And despite his age of 37, the San Antonio native seems to be getting better as he gets older, as he has stopped young prospects Adan Casillas and Fernando Mena in his last two bouts. Prior to the Casillas and Mena fights, Leija had earned at shot at the undisputed World Jr. Welterweight Champion, Tszyu, with wins on HBO over former #1 world contender Ivan Robinson and exciting contender, Micky Ward.
Leija is currently ranked among the world’s top ten junior welterweights by the WBC and IBF. He is ranked #7 by the WBC and third highest by the IBF.
Covington, Tennessee's Marteze Logan (13-7-1, 2 KOs) knows that a win over Leija would put his career on the fast track to bigger and better things. A 19-year-old who has come up the hard way, Logan has gained valuable experience with each fight, and plans on putting those lessons to work for him on April 30.
In the Semi-Main event, junior lightweight prospect Ivan Valle tackles Miguel A. Huerta in a ten rounder.
A lanky bomber with an exciting style and confident swagger, Los Mochis’ Valle (20-5-1, 17 KOs) has gained a reputation for fighting anyone at anytime. He is coming off a close majority decision loss to fellow prospect Shamir Reyes in January, but “Relampago” vows that the rest of his 2004 opponents won’t be able to last the distance with his thunderous fists.
Like Valle, Huerta (18-6-1, 12 KOs) has never shied away from any challenge in the ring, having faced the likes of Julio Diaz, Victoriano Sosa, and Darling Jimenez. Hailing from Mexico City, the 26-year-old known as “El Anestesista” is coming off a ten round win over veteran Roque Cassiani last November.
In a featured female bout scheduled for six rounds, highly regarded Mexican champion Mariana Juarez (11-3-3, 6 KOs) will look to continue her climb up the world rankings in a bout against a to be determined foe. The 24-year-old super flyweight, who is fresh from a victory over Yvonne Chavez last October, is considered to be one of the hardest punchers in the ladies’ ranks.
Juarez’ opponent as well as the remainder of the undercard is to be announced.
Tickets, priced at $100 VIP (includes pre-fight reception), $50, $40, $30, $20 and are available at the Dodge Arena Box Office and all Dodge Arena, Valley locations beginning Wednesday, March 31.
The April 30th event is one of nineteen Miller Lite Texas Title Belt, Professional Boxing Series, events throughout Texas during the year. The Miller Lite Texas Title Belt Series benefits The ¡Adelante! U.S. Education and Leadership Fund. ¡Adelante! provides educational assistance to Hispanic students through scholarship awards, internships and leadership training programs.
