im watching some old paez fights on you tube and i can see the similarity in styles with him and leija. both shorter crouching fighters that relied on the quick upperbody movement. i always thought leija and now paez where incredable talents that where just unlucky to be in the same weight classes as some of the bigger names that where also physically bigger then them. i think leija would win because he looks a little bigger and stronger then the harder punching paez.
While that assessment is true, Paez was more of a pressure fighter and brawler, while Leija was more of a boxer. Their styles really were rather contrasting. They also had big problems with discipline and keeping their weight down, and both fattened themselves out of what probably should've been their ideal weight classes. It's hard to tell who really was "bigger." Paez was able to stay down at 126 for longer, yet he also seemed more comfortable up at 135, whereas Leija was almost a fish out of water there despite being more accomplished at 130. I felt Leija initially only left 126 because he got the opportunity to fight Nelson at 130, yet within a year or so of that he was struggling just to make 130. Because of their weight problems and fluctuating careers, it's hard to figure where exactly was either man's "best" weight. Adding to the difficulty in picking this, Paez seemed to have been a more consistent performer at the top level, but Leija's win over Nelson in the 2nd fight was probably a bigger and more impressive win than any single one Paez had. In the end, I think I would favor Paez's infighting technique, awkwardness, and pressure to give him a close edge over Leija.
Very good assesment of the fighters. however the deciding factor for me is Paez tended to fight in spurts. which would let the busier Lieja outpoint Paez over the distance for a close win.
This is basically what happened when Paez fought Tony Lopez for the 130 lb. title and likely would be similar result against Leija.
I would question that. I don't think Leija was quite in the class of Lopez, and except for his 2nd fight with Nelson, his stamina/workrate was not as good.
