On January 29, 2005, a 38-year-old Jesse James Leija (47-6-2, 19 KOs) got a shot at the super-lightweight WBC title held by 32-year-old Canadian boxer Arturo Gatti (38-6, 29 KOs).
Leija came in to the fight on a 4-fight win streak with a 34% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 6 months and 5 days. Gatti was on a 4-fight win streak with a 65% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 6 months and 5 days.
Arturo Gatti stopped Jesse James Leija via KO in the 5th round of the 12-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC super-lightweight title. Gatti improves his record to 39-6 (30 KOs), while Leija adds a loss to his record at 47-7-2.
On January 19, 2003, a 36-year-old Jesse James Leija (43-5-2, 17 KOs) got a shot at the undisputed super-lightweight championship held by 33-year-old Kostya Tszyu (29-1, 23 KOs).
Leija came in to the fight on a 3-fight win streak with a 34% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 year and 14 days. Tszyu was on a 11-fight win streak with a 76% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 8 months and 1 day.
The challenger refused to continue the fight in the 6th round, and Kostya Tszyu is crowned the new super-lightweight world champion. Tszyu improves his record to 30-1 (24 KOs), while Leija adds a loss to his record at 43-6-2.
On August 5, 2000, a 34-year-old Jesse James Leija (40-4-2, 16 KOs) and Juan Lazcano met in the ring.
Leija came in to the fight on a 3-fight win streak with a 34% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 22 days.
Jesse James Leija lost to Juan Lazcano via split decision in the 10-round fight, and adds an loss to his record at 40-5-2.
On November 14, 1998, a 32-year-old Jesse James Leija (37-3-2, 15 KOs) got a shot at the lightweight IBF title held by 27-year-old Shane Mosley (29-0, 27 KOs).
Leija came in to the fight on a 7-fight win streak with a 35% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 3 days. Mosley was on a 29-fight win streak with a 93% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 1 month and 23 days.
The challenger refused to continue the fight in the 9th round, and Shane Mosley is crowned the new lightweight world champion. Mosley improves his record to 30-0 (28 KOs), while Leija adds a loss to his record at 37-4-2.
On June 1, 1996, Jesse James Leija and Azumah Nelson met again in a rematch.
Leija came in to the fight on a 1-fight losing streak with a 41% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months and 17 days. Nelson was on a 1-fight win streak with a 61% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 6 months.
In the rematch, Azumah Nelson stopped Jesse James Leija via TKO in the 6th round of the 12-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC super-featherweight title. Nelson improves his record to 38-3-2 (27 KOs), while Leija adds a loss to his record at 30-3-2.
On December 15, 1995, a 29-year-old Jesse James Leija (30-1-2, 14 KOs) got a shot at the lightweight WBO title held by 22-year-old Oscar De La Hoya (19-0, 17 KOs).
Leija came in to the fight on a 2-fight win streak with a 42% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 16 days. De La Hoya was on a 19-fight win streak with a 89% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 3 months and 6 days.
Oscar De La Hoya made very easy work of Jesse James Leija, stopping the challenger via RTD in the 2nd. De La Hoya improves his record to 20-0 (18 KOs), while Leija adds a loss to his record at 30-2-2.
On September 17, 1994, the 28-year-old WBC super-featherweight world champion, Jesse James Leija (28-0-2, 13 KOs), faced a 24-year-old Mexican boxer Gabriel Ruelas (38-2, 21 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Leija came in to the fight on a 2-fight win streak with a 43% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 10 days. Ruelas was on a 5-fight win streak with a 52% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 3 months and 28 days.
Gabriel Ruelas defeated Jesse James Leija via unanimous decision and wins the WBC title — in his first world-title fight. Ruelas improves his record to 39-2, while Leija adds a loss to his record at 28-1-2.