28 years ago

Date: 15th December 1995

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York

Title: WBO World Lightweight Title

Promoter: Top Rank

Tv: HBO World Championship Boxing

Oscar De La Hoya
( 19 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 135 lbs

Jesse James Leija
( 30 - 1 - 2 )
Weight: 134¾ lbs

On Friday, 15th December 1995, Madison Square Garden in New York City played host to the Oscar De La Hoya and Jesse James Leija lightweight title match. The fight, promoted by Top Rank and aired on HBO World Championship Boxing, saw De La Hoya defend his WBO World title for the sixth time. The two fighters entered the ring with De La Hoya weighing in at 135 lbs and Leija at 134¾ lbs, both eager to prove their superiority.

The first round of the bout was closely contested, with the judges scoring it 10-9 in favor of De La Hoya.

In the second round, De La Hoya's dominance became more apparent. With 50 seconds of the round remaining, De La Hoya unleashed a left hook that sent Leija to the canvas. The challenger beat the count but the champion sensed the end was near and went after his prey with a barrage of punches that dropped Leija in the corner, and although he beat the count again, his corner threw in the towel as he returned to his stool and Lipton declared him out at exactly 3:00 of the round. The stoppage came immediately after the bell, marking the end of the bout.