BOSTON (February 14, 2005) – Recently retired Jesse James Leija, “The Texas Tornado,” and retribution seeking light heavyweight Eric Harding are Thursday night’s (Feb. 17) special guests on the New England Ringside Boxing Radio Show live on WWZN 1510 The Zone in Boston. Leija (47-7-2, 19 KOs) will discuss his outstanding 15-year pro career, highlighted by a legendary four-fight war against Azumah Nelson (Leija was 2-1-1), also including memorable victories against Francisco Bojado, Micky Ward, and Ivan Robinson. Leija, the pride of San Antonio, captured the WBC super featherweight, IBA lightweight, NABF featherweight and lightweight titles. He also fought additional stars of boxing such as Kosta Tszyu, Juan Lazcano, Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya and Gabriel Ruelas.
Harding (22-3-1, 7 KOs), fighting out of West Hartford (CT), was inactive for nearly two years prior to last Friday night’s unanimous 12-round decision against David Telesco for the vacant USBA light heavyweight championship. Eric’s career losses have been to the top three light heavyweights in the world – Glen Johnson (DEC12), Antonio Tarver (TKO5) and Roy Jones, Jr. (TKO10) — and he’s now after rematches versus any or all of them. Harding has beaten Tarver (DEC12), George Khalid Jones (TKO7), Montell Griffin (DEC12) and Kabary Salem (DEC6).
The two-hour New England Ringside Boxing Radio Show – hosted by Ted Bodenrader, Anthony Pepe, Rick Brutti and Joe Bills — airs every Thursday night between 6-8 pm (ET) on The Zone: Boston’s Boxing Station at 1510 AM and also may be heard live on the Internet by going to www.newenglandringside.com.
New England Ringside also publishes a monthly magazine, hosts a popular web site, and owns Fightography (sells classic boxing pictures). For more information about New England Ringside call 603.525.3867 or go on line to www.newenglandringside.com.
NER Promotions, a division of New England Ringside, promotes its first professional boxing show – “Championship Boxing Returns to Lowell” – Friday night, February 25 at Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts. NABA light heavyweight champion George Khalid Jones (20-2-1, 13 KOs), rated No. 4 by the World Boxing Association, headlines against veteran Thomas Reid (33-14-1, 13 KOs). Tickets, priced between $100.00 and $25.00, are available at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com) or the Lowell Memorial Auditorium’s box office (978.454.2299).