In one corner will stand Kostya Tszyu, the powerfully built world champion. In the other corner will be Jesse James Leija, the masterful boxer looking for one more world title.

It's the warlord of 140-pounders versus the boxing wizard of the last 10 years. Is it a mismatch, or a mistake?

The world of prizefighting will soon find out Saturday, Jan. 18th, as Tszyu (29-1-1, 23 KOs) defends his junior welterweight world championship against Leija (43-5-2, 17 KOs), the overwhelming underdog from the Lone Star state.

When Showtime televises the title bout from Australia, Tszyu's adopted country, millions of television viewers world-wide will find out if the masterful boxer Leija still has something in his bag of tricks to offset the numbing power of Tszyu.

"I know I'm going to be a huge underdog and it's tough to fight in Australia. But that's what it's all about in pro boxing," said Leija, the former junior lightweight champion. "I hope everything I do works out and I become world champion. None of the fights since 1998 have been easy."

Tszyu knows something about fighting on foreign soil. Despite having all three major junior welterweight titles, the former Siberian native has not fought in his adopted home Australia since beating Calvin Grove to a pulp in April 5, 1998.

"I feel great. It is a pleasure for me to be on my home soil, fighting in front of my home crowd, and still be visible to my fans all across the world," said Tszyu, who is the king of the talent laden 140-pounders. "It is a special fight for me because I am fighting here in Melbourne where I started my professional career in 1992. Today is the 11-year anniversary of my professional career. I look forward to this fight."

Leija, with his shaved head and Tszyu with his tightly-wound braid on the top of his crew-cut head, look like two ancient monks in an old martial arts film ready to fight for the good of the world. In this case, it's for good old sportsmanship.

"Tsyzu has been good for the sport," Leija said. "I've tried to be."

These two fighters refuse to stoop to trash talking. It's beneath them. In fact, Tszyu refuses to fight anyone who resorts to derogatory measures.

"Do not be rude to me," Tszyu once said to a reporter. And to fighters who call him names, he simply refuses to fight them.

"Everyone expects boxing to be trash talking," said Tszyu, who often hears former opponents diatribes who want a rematch. "We have a few great boxers and gentleman in the sport, and the 140-pound division has a lot of gentleman. It is great for the sport. Young kids look at us and see what boxing is all about."

Leija, another fighter who believes in his boxing skills, not his mouth, welcomes the gentlemanly words by Tsyzu and the chance for another world title.

"I've fought Shane Mosley, I've fought Oscar De La Hoya, Tszyu ranks right up there with both," said Leija, who lasted nine rounds with Mosley and two rounds with De La Hoya.

Once inside the ring, Tsyzu wields two-fisted power and an extensive amateur background that saw him win more than 300 victories including one over Vernon Forrest in the 1992 Olympics. The undisputed champion can also out-smart and out-last other powerful opponents as seen in his wins over Ben Tackie, Oktay Urkal and Julio Cesar Chavez.

"He's very strong," said Leija, who has never been known as a knockout puncher. "But I can punch a little. I have surprising power."

It was this surprising power that forced Hector Camacho Jr. to reconsider his knockout tactics when they fought two years ago. Leija caught Camacho with a left hook that sent the bewildered fighter into the ropes. Before their fight, many had felt the Texan was over-matched.

"Hector (Camacho) is a great fighter. He has great talent," said Leija, who bumped heads with Camacho during their fight causing a cut to open. The bout was stopped and declared a controversial draw. "Hector had hurt me in the beginning. He really hurt me. But I looked at him and he looked back at me, then he stepped back. I knew I had him when I saw that."

Wily and fearless, Leija realizes a fighter like Tszyu possesses even more power than any other fighter below middleweight except De La Hoya. But he's determined to find out if his considerable knowledge learned in the ring can offset a juggernaut like Tszyu.

"I know pound for pound he's one of the best in the world," Leija said. "I know I cut easy. But I have to throw that all out the window. This isn't basketball or football. There's not another day to come back if you lose. It has to be your day that day."

To insure peak efficiency, Leija has adopted new age methods to add to his boxing wizardry. He calls them his secret weapons.

"If I had learned these things years ago, I probably would have a couple less losses," said Leija, who has only been beaten decisively by De La Hoya, Mosley, Azumah Nelson and Gabe Ruelas. The other loss to Juan Lazcano was considered extremely controversial considering Leija was hardly hit.

But it all means nothing if time has decided to erode the physical skills of San Antonio's favorite son.

"I think James still has enough left to out-smart Kostya Tszyu," said Lestor Bedford, Leija's manager and friend. "But this kid Tsyzu is really strong. I'm hoping James can pull it out."

Tszyu speaks softly, but sports an aura of invincibility having defeated former world title-holders like Zab Judah, Sharmba Mitchell and Miguel Angel Gonzalez.

"I am sure this will be a great fight. I never met James, but I feel great about him. I am sure we will be great mates after the fight. He is a proud man, and there is nothing at all between us personally," said Tszyu. "We are just coming to do our job, and do what we love to do. This is what sports is supposed to be all about. There doesn't need to be any extra hype, or any hate toward each other."

Leija, ever the optimist, knows he has a great obstacle in Tszyu.

"I may be off he may be on. I know it's going to be tough for him. He's a different breed, he's a tough fighter. If I'm going to go out I'm going out fighting the best," said Leija. "I always said I was going to retire when I started losing to fighters that are very ordinary, that's when I get out. But there's no shame losing to a great fighter. There are a lot of rewards if I win. No money can beat that. That's why I'm still in this game."