Boxing legend Jesse James Leija helps OLLU men’s basketball close out preseason

World Boxing Champion Jesse James Leija poses with the men’s basketball team.

World Boxing Champion Jesse James Leija poses with the men’s basketball team.

The men’s basketball finished its preseason Oct. 4, with a boxing session held by San Antonio boxing legend Jesse James Leija at his ChampionFit Gym. This was the fifth time that the men’s basketball team ended its preseason at Leija’s gym located on San Pedro Avenue in San Antonio. Head Coach Russell Vanlandingham started the tradition five years ago, when he was introduced to Leija by Roy Terracina, chairman of the Board of Trustees of OLLU. Terracina himself has been working out with the two-time world boxing champ for more than 20 years. Terracina worked out alongside the players Friday morning. Vanlandingham hopes that the workout can make his team tougher and play with a different mentality. “Boxing makes you develop a mentality and toughness that we could use,” explained Vanlandingham, “It is also important for the guys to meet a guy like the champ who got the most out of his abilities.” Read more online.