By Scott Shaffer

Arturo Gatti retained the WBC 140-pound title with a fifth-round knockout of Jesse James Leija in front of a sold out crowd at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on Saturday.  Leija boxed with Gatti until the fifth round, when Gatti landed a right that quickly turned the junior welterweight bout into a blowout.  There was not much action in the first round, with Gatti slightly outjabbing the challenger.  Leija landed a few rights in a surprisingly tame second before Gatti landed one loud right of his own.  It got the crowd's attention but didn't phase Leija.  In the third, Gatti landed a nice right in the third but Leija answered back with one of his own a few seconds later. In the fourth Gatti seemed content to stick to his jab and threw very few right hands, but the second right hand he threw in the fifth was a beauty that deposited Leija on his butt. Leija was badly shaken but gamely rose and attempted to trade with Gatti. Leija actually landed a couple of shots but Gatti was far too strong for him. Leija remained dazed until a Gatti combination, punctuated by another right, ended the bout.  Leija was struggling to his feet when the referee reached ten.  After the bout, Leija stopped short of announcing his retirement, but at 38 years old with a successful career to look back on, the former WBC 130-pound champion did not seem too keen on starting another ring campaign.