I'm sure you guys know the jist of it.The two vets met up in Jesse James's hometown of San Antonio,Texas on a HBO BAD headliner on january 5th 2002 in hopes of a win and a more lucrative money fight(Micky was looking for Gatti and James for Camacho jr part 2). Now, what was to be a pretty fun fight was cut short.Here are some aspects: -Laurence Cole INCORRECTLY ruled Leija's cut from a clash of heads.Replays never showed that.Rather a left hook from Ward or a weird sort of glove brush that seemed to cause the cut. -After the 3rd round Leija's corner was telling him to win the next round in what seemed to be a lets win the first 4-5 rounds and then we will go on points. -True to this,Joe Souza was saying to the dictor to stop the fight basically after the 5th. Scores were 3-2 Ward,3-2 Leija and a Gale Van Hoy 4-1 Leija. What are your thoughts.?
I watched it live. It was always used as one example for why scores shouldn't be known by the fighters during a fight, especially when you have complicit officials. Leija fought Camacho's son the fight before this, was coming on, Camacho suffered a knick, and claimed he couldn't see ... and Lejia was denied. Leija did the same to Ward. Some guys turn into pussies when they know they are up on the cards. (LOL) And Lawrence Cole is famously corrupt.
Good post and I remember it the same as you. One exception though; I don’t think Leija was ever known for being ***** - the way he handled this fight was a disappointing exception for him. Especially considering the exact same thing happened to him in his previous fight.
Agreed but its rather hardh to call Leija a *****. It was the exception not the rule. He was winning slightly I feel with better more fluid combinations however I had the feeling Ward would come on in the second half of the fight. What do you think?
