Jesse James Leija Interview

Boxer talks Fight Night, Gatti, and the zone.

Talk boxing legends with Jesse James Leija, and he quickly quips "I'm a legend in my own mind."

Leija is as sharp with his words as he is with his jabs, as the man dubbed The Texas Tornado is one of the few boxers with over 50 fights who remains both articulate in his interviews and accurate with his fists.

Jesse James is bringing his skills into an all new arena this April, though, as the pugilist transforms into polygons for his video game debut in EA Sports Fight Night 2004.

IGN Sports sat down Leija recently to talk boxing, Fight Night, and what it's like to be in the zone.

IGN Sports: I hear when you walk down the streets of San Antonio, you're more popular than the mayor.

Jesse James Leija: I'm way more popular than the mayor. [laughs] But that's not hard, because he's not one of our most popular mayors. He's a good guy, though. I helped him out on his campaign, but he's just not an outgoing person, he kind of stays in his shell all the time, which is unusual for a mayor. But yeah, I'm one of the most popular people in the city. I'd say it's between me, Tim Duncan, and David Robinson.

IGN Sports: So what you're saying is that you're bigger than Tony Parker.

Jesse James Leija: I'm not as big as he is, but I'm probably more well known. I'm a hometown fighter. I'm from San Antonio, man, these guys are inbreds. [laughs]

IGN Sports: You're now taking that popularity with you into the new game, Fight Night. Are you a big gamer?

Jesse James Leija: I love video games. Whenever it strikes me, I go out and buy some new games. Both of my boys are huge sports fans and they're always beating me all the time at games like Madden and FIFA soccer. I don't get to spend as much time as they do breaking down the plays, but I still love playing. We have just about every sports game that has come out lately.

IGN Sports: Is it true that besides video games, your biggest hobby is reading?

Jesse James Leija: I read so many books, I just love reading. I think that is something that I has contributed to my success as a boxer. I've always read books on positive thinking, books that are motivational, and it really has helped me throughout my career. Not only that, being a boxer, always reading has enabled me to maintain my mind. It's enabled me to always stay sharp. Of course, in boxing, all you're doing is killing brain cells, but as you read and learn, you're creating new brain cells. I think that's what has helped me. I'm still able to speak well, I do so many speaking engagements, and I owe that all to reading. It's like learning has balanced out my brain from all the punches I've received.

IGN Sports: Your kids have to be pretty excited for a chance to beat you up in Fight Night.

Jesse James Leija: They never stop asking me when I'm going to get the game. Now the trial version finally came in, and they're so pumped up to play, I've never seen them like this for a game.

IGN Sports: What's the most important aspect about your persona or boxing style that you'd like to see represented in the game?

Jesse James Leija: I'm a technician, I do the right things. I may not be the type of fighter that does anything extraordinary, but everything I do is the right way of doing it. I just get the job done. I'm one of these people, I'm a blue-collar type fighter. I start from the bottom and I work hard until I move up the ranks and get the job done.

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