Oscar De La Hoya vs. Jesse James Leija, billed as Return to the Mecca was a professional boxing match contested on December 15, 1995, for the WBO lightweight title.

[1] Almost immediately following his victory over Genaro Hernández, Oscar De La Hoya, the reigning WBO lightweight champion, would sign a deal with Madison Square Garden president Dave Checketts, who was in attendance for the Hernández fight, that would see De La Hoya make his next title defense against an yet-to-be-named opponent in the famed arena in what would be his New York City debut.

[5] Patterson's stepfather and former manager, two-time heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson served as the chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission and was an integral part of bringing the event to Madison Square Garden but opted not to attend the press conference announcing the event as a result of a rift with his stepson.

[6] Leija's trainer Richie Giachetti expressed dissatisfaction with the New York State Athletic Commission appointing Ron Lipton to referee the fight, claiming that Lipton would unfairly favor De La Hoya and vowed to protest the fight should Leija lose by a decision stating "If there's a knockout, then it doesn't matter.

Confused, HBO commentators Jim Lampley, George Foreman Larry Merchant and Harold Lederman argued amongst themselves whether Lipton had stopped the fight or Leija had been counter out.