gatti's next fight is set

After weeks of negotiations, "Jesse" James Leija and Arturo Gatti have reached an agreement on a fight early next year in Atlantic City, N.J. The 12-round bout, which may or may not be for a world title, will take place Jan. 22 or Jan. 29. The final date will be determined by HBO, the cable network televising the fight. Although no contracts have been signed, Leija said Friday the deal "is all but done." "It's a relief," he said, "but I still have a lot of work to do to get ready." Under terms of the agreement, Leija, 38, will earn $600,000, the largest payday of his career. Gatti, 32, reportedly will receive between $2 million and $3 million. Michael Miller, Leija's attorney, said the final negotiating point concerns options that New Jersey-based Main Events, Gatti's promoter, is seeking on Leija should Leija win the fight. Leija (47-6-2, 19 KOs) is promoted by Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions of Los Angeles. "There shouldn't be a problem," Miller said. "They'll be able to work it out. We're just waiting for the final draft. It's going to happen." The contract contains a rematch clause, Miller added. Leija said he was not concerned that Gatti's World Boxing Council junior welterweight title might not be on the line. The WBC has yet to decide if it will sanction the fight. According to WBC rules, Gatti (38-6, 29 KOs) is supposed to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., the No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger, next, not Leija. The hope is that the WBC will allow Leija and Gatti to fight for the title, with the winner meeting Mayweather at a later date. Lester Bedford, Leija's manager, said they insisted during negotiations that the purse be the same with or without a world title at stake. Carl Moretti, chief of boxing operations for Main Events, confirmed Friday that the fight is all but set. He also said Gatti would be willing to give up his belt in order to fight Leija "if need be."