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PRINT THIS PAGE | E-MAIL THIS PAGE Saturday, July 11, 1998 Alamodome fight fourth match between Leija, Nelson SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Their re-, re-, rematch promises to be just as exciting as their first three fights. And it could finally settle a 5-year-old score between Jesse James Leija and Azumah Nelson, who fight Saturday night in a 12-round lightweight bout at the Alamodome. "We've had some classic battles," said Leija. "I don't expect the fourth to be any different." The match will be Nelson's first since he lost the WBC super featherweight title on points to Genaro Hernandez in March 1997. The America Presents promotion is billed as the Festival of Champions. Among the six fights on the undercard, Gabriel Ruelas, a former WBC super featherweight champion, will fight Troy Dorsey, a former IBF featherweight champ, in a junior lightweight title bout. There also will be a junior lightweight nontitle match between Goyo Vargas of Mexico, a former WBC featherweight champion, and Tracy Harris Patterson, who held the WBC and IBF super featherweight titles. The 32-year-old Leija, of San Antonio, and the 38-year old Nelson, of Ghana, first fought in September 1993 in the Alamodome in a battle surrounded by controversy. Though Leija took control in the middle rounds to forge a lead over the defending champion, Nelson rallied to win the last four rounds for an apparent victory. But the decision was changed to a draw because a judge's scorecard was incorrectly tabulated. "I feel I won the fight," Nelson said. "The people, they know who won." Leija dominated the second match in May 1994 in Las Vegas as he realized his dream of winning a world title. Nelson won the third fight in Las Vegas in June 1996. The referee stopped the fight in the sixth round after Leija suffered a deep cut on his right eyelid. This time may be the final time the two fight each other. "Unless something crazy happens," Leija said. "Like another draw." Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below: texnews.com Reporter OnLine Local Sports Texas Sports Copyright ©1998, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below:

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