Two

WBC Super Lightweight Title Bout

Arturo Gatti vs. Jesse James Leija

January 29, 2005

Bally's Atlantic City

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Line-up:

WBC Super Lightweight Title Bout (12 Rds)

Champion Arturo Gatti (38-6, 29 KOs) vs. Jesse James Leija (47-6-2, 19 KOs)

IBF Jr. Middleweight Title Bout (12 Rds)

Kassim Ouma (20-1-1, 13 KOs) vs. Kofi Jantuah (28-1, 18 KOs)

________________________________________________

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ  - Boxing's most-exciting fighter, WBC super lightweight champion Arturo Gatti, returns

to the ring on Jan 29, 2005, to defend his crown against former world champion Jesse James Leija, it was

announced on December 2nd by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. Bally's Atlantic City will host the

electrifying evening of boxing, which will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. HBO's "World

Championship Boxing Series" will broadcast the Gatti-Leija bout, as well as a live co-feature bout, beginning

at 9:45 pm ET/ 6:45 pm PT.

Tickets, priced at $400, $200, $150, $100, and $50, can be purchased through Ticketmaster at

1-800-736-1420 or Bally's show & reservations desk.

Gatti (38-6, 29 KO's) has participated in the "Fight of the Year" five times (1996-1998; 2002-2003). The

32-year-old Montreal, Canada native and current Jersey City, NJ resident captured the vacant WBC super

lightweight title on January 24, 2004, when he defeated WBC #1 ranked contender Gianluca Branco in front

of 11,000 fans at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ (W 12). The Branco bout was Gatti"s first since his epic

trilogy against Mickey Ward in 2002-2003. In his last bout on July 24, 2004, Gatti stopped former world

champion Leonard Dorin in the second round with a crippling left hook to the body that sent Dorin to his

knees, unable to beat the 10 count (KO 2).

Leija (47-6-2, 19 KO's) has won five of his last six bouts. The 37-year-old San Antonio, TX native's sole loss

during this time period was a six round stoppage at the hands of former undisputed jr. welterweight champion

Kostya Tszyu (TKO by 6). Leija is a former WBC super featherweight champion who fought three memorable

bouts against Ghanan legend Azumah Nelson. Since turning pro in 1988 Leija has fought some of the

sport's finest boxers, such as Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley, Azumah Nelson, Kostya Tszyu, Gabriel

Ruelas, Micky Ward, Ivan Robinson, and Juan Lazcano. In his last bout on July 24, 2004, Leija climbed

off the canvas in round two to upset Panchito Bojado (W 10).

The evening of boxing is being presented by Main Events, Bally's Atlantic City, and Caesars Atlantic City, in

association with Golden Boy Promotions.

- Press Release issued by Bally's Atlantic City (with a little editing from us - highlights, etc...)

(12/10/04)