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CAN ESTEBAN DEJESUS BE "THIRD TIME LUCKY" TWICE?
On the whole, boxers tend to be a superstitious lot. Some of them have their lucky charms, some of
them pray in the dressing room before a fight; and some refuse to the photographed prior to a bout,
believing the click of a camera shutter is a harbinger of bad things to come.
Each man is different. Each man believes there is some special, mystical element accounting for his
success. Each man can foresee some portent of disaster possibly hiding in the road ahead, waiting to
spring out at him without warning. A lucky pair of trunks, a quiet period of meditation, refusal to
shave the day of a fight. They are all different forms of boxers' superstitions.
For Esteban Dejesus, the lucky omen is the number three.
In his first two attempts at a world championship, Esteban lost. The third time he tried, he won,
taking the WBC lightweight crown from Guts Ishimatsu.
Meanwhile, over in the WBA stable, Roberto Duran still rides herd over his more accepted version
of the lightweight crown. Many people think of "Duran" and "invincible" as one thought, but not
Esteban Dejesus. He knows better. For Esteban is the only man to ever defeat Roberto Duran.
On November 17, 1972, Esteban Dejesus shocked the boxing world. No one had ever beaten the
tough, hard-hitting Duran. Few had even come near that mark. Indeed, most of Roberto's opponents
had been knocked out long before a decision could have even been considered.
But not Esteban Dejesus. He was the first man to knock down Roberto Duran. He was the first man
to prove he could outshine, outbox and overpower Roberto Duran. "I saw from the very beginning I
could hit and overpower Roberto Duran. "I saw from the very beginning I could fight him, said
Esteban after that fight. And hit Duran he did. roberto Duran was shown not to be a superman.
Luck was with Esteban that night. Roberto, however, was luckier. Since it was a non-title fight,
Duran kept his crown.
But with his aura of invincibility shattered, Roberto had to give Dejesus another chance-this time the
title. If that first bout had been a title fight, it would have been Esteban calling the shots. But this was
not to be-not yet at least. This had only been their first fight.
Fate was again unkind to Esteban Dejesus the second time he fought Roberto Duran. The heat and
humidity in Panama was unbearable for him. He had not had enough time to get used to the 100
degree temperatures and high humidity normal to Panama City, Roberto, however, felt quite
comfortable in his old hometown.
Still, Esteban was able to floor Duran again. But in this fight, Dejesus could not pull off a victory in
this second meeting. Duran was the better fighter. Dejesus was knocked out in the 11th round.
But Esteban was able to floor Duran again. But in this fight, Dejesus could not pull off a victory. In
this second meeting, Duran was the better fighter. Dejesus was knocked in the 11th round.
But Esteban's luck would not have allowed him to win that fight anyway. After all, it was just the
first time he had fought for a world title. It was only the second time he had fought Roberto Duran.
If fate is to be kind to Esteban Dejesus, it has to be on his third time around.
Therefore, Dejesus should not have expected a victory in his fight against Colombian native Antonio
Cervantes for the junior welterweight championship in May 1975. Once again, the unbearably hot
temperatures got to the Puerto Rican lightweight. This time, though, he fought valiantly for 15
rounds. But Antonio Cervantes fought better. He won the unanimous decision.
So Esteban Dejesus duly noted the second segment of his three part championship effort. The fates
duly noted this fight also.
It remained for Guts Ishimatsu to fall victim to Esteban's powerful left and right crosses. But Guts
also had to defend himself against something more powerful than Esteban's punches. It was Dejesus
third try for a world championship. If omens, portents, harbingers of good or bad luck were to mean
anything, Esteban had to win.
Ishimatsu should have stayed home. Dejesus was home-fighting in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. There
seemed no way for Guts to counterpunch Esteban's inevitable good luck. He couldn't The
unanimous decision went to Dejesus. On may 8, 1976, Esteban Dejesus had been third time lucky.
The fates had been smiling on him that night. He brought the WBC lightweight crown to Puerto
Rico.
But it was only half a crown. And the other half belongs to Esteban's arch-rival, Roberto Duran.
Obviously, there must soon come the day when the two champions meet. It is a day Dejesus looks
forward to a with great anticipation-and optimism.
Unlike other divisions, these two world lightweight champions have fought each other before. EAch
holds a victory over the other. Each is an excellent, widely respected boxer. But one of them has a
supernatural phenomenon on his side. The next time Duran and Dejesus meet will be their third time.
And the third time has always been lucky for Esteban Dejesus.
There remains one question: Can Esteban Dejesus be third time lucky, twice?
Reprinted from World Boxing, September 1976
Webmaster note:
The third time would not be a charm for Esteban Dejesus when it came to fighting Roberto Duran.
Dejesus would go on to defend the lightweight title three times. He stopped the undefeated Hector
Medina, Buzzsaw Yamabe, and Vicente Saldivar.
He would then be stopped in the rubber match with Roberto Duran.
He would campaign another two and a half years, gaining a split duke over Edwin Viruet but then
being stopped in thirteen rounds by junior welterweight champion Saoul Mamby.
Dejesus died of Aids in 1989.
On the whole, boxers tend to be a superstitious lot. Some of them have their lucky charms, some of
them pray in the dressing room before a fight; and some refuse to the photographed prior to a bout,
believing the click of a camera shutter is a harbinger of bad things to come.
Each man is different. Each man believes there is some special, mystical element accounting for his
success. Each man can foresee some portent of disaster possibly hiding in the road ahead, waiting to
spring out at him without warning. A lucky pair of trunks, a quiet period of meditation, refusal to
shave the day of a fight. They are all different forms of boxers' superstitions.
For Esteban Dejesus, the lucky omen is the number three.
In his first two attempts at a world championship, Esteban lost. The third time he tried, he won,
taking the WBC lightweight crown from Guts Ishimatsu.
Meanwhile, over in the WBA stable, Roberto Duran still rides herd over his more accepted version
of the lightweight crown. Many people think of "Duran" and "invincible" as one thought, but not
Esteban Dejesus. He knows better. For Esteban is the only man to ever defeat Roberto Duran.
On November 17, 1972, Esteban Dejesus shocked the boxing world. No one had ever beaten the
tough, hard-hitting Duran. Few had even come near that mark. Indeed, most of Roberto's opponents
had been knocked out long before a decision could have even been considered.
But not Esteban Dejesus. He was the first man to knock down Roberto Duran. He was the first man
to prove he could outshine, outbox and overpower Roberto Duran. "I saw from the very beginning I
could hit and overpower Roberto Duran. "I saw from the very beginning I could fight him, said
Esteban after that fight. And hit Duran he did. roberto Duran was shown not to be a superman.
Luck was with Esteban that night. Roberto, however, was luckier. Since it was a non-title fight,
Duran kept his crown.
But with his aura of invincibility shattered, Roberto had to give Dejesus another chance-this time the
title. If that first bout had been a title fight, it would have been Esteban calling the shots. But this was
not to be-not yet at least. This had only been their first fight.
Fate was again unkind to Esteban Dejesus the second time he fought Roberto Duran. The heat and
humidity in Panama was unbearable for him. He had not had enough time to get used to the 100
degree temperatures and high humidity normal to Panama City, Roberto, however, felt quite
comfortable in his old hometown.
Still, Esteban was able to floor Duran again. But in this fight, Dejesus could not pull off a victory in
this second meeting. Duran was the better fighter. Dejesus was knocked out in the 11th round.
But Esteban was able to floor Duran again. But in this fight, Dejesus could not pull off a victory. In
this second meeting, Duran was the better fighter. Dejesus was knocked in the 11th round.
But Esteban's luck would not have allowed him to win that fight anyway. After all, it was just the
first time he had fought for a world title. It was only the second time he had fought Roberto Duran.
If fate is to be kind to Esteban Dejesus, it has to be on his third time around.
Therefore, Dejesus should not have expected a victory in his fight against Colombian native Antonio
Cervantes for the junior welterweight championship in May 1975. Once again, the unbearably hot
temperatures got to the Puerto Rican lightweight. This time, though, he fought valiantly for 15
rounds. But Antonio Cervantes fought better. He won the unanimous decision.
So Esteban Dejesus duly noted the second segment of his three part championship effort. The fates
duly noted this fight also.
It remained for Guts Ishimatsu to fall victim to Esteban's powerful left and right crosses. But Guts
also had to defend himself against something more powerful than Esteban's punches. It was Dejesus
third try for a world championship. If omens, portents, harbingers of good or bad luck were to mean
anything, Esteban had to win.
Ishimatsu should have stayed home. Dejesus was home-fighting in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. There
seemed no way for Guts to counterpunch Esteban's inevitable good luck. He couldn't The
unanimous decision went to Dejesus. On may 8, 1976, Esteban Dejesus had been third time lucky.
The fates had been smiling on him that night. He brought the WBC lightweight crown to Puerto
Rico.
But it was only half a crown. And the other half belongs to Esteban's arch-rival, Roberto Duran.
Obviously, there must soon come the day when the two champions meet. It is a day Dejesus looks
forward to a with great anticipation-and optimism.
Unlike other divisions, these two world lightweight champions have fought each other before. EAch
holds a victory over the other. Each is an excellent, widely respected boxer. But one of them has a
supernatural phenomenon on his side. The next time Duran and Dejesus meet will be their third time.
And the third time has always been lucky for Esteban Dejesus.
There remains one question: Can Esteban Dejesus be third time lucky, twice?
Reprinted from World Boxing, September 1976
Webmaster note:
The third time would not be a charm for Esteban Dejesus when it came to fighting Roberto Duran.
Dejesus would go on to defend the lightweight title three times. He stopped the undefeated Hector
Medina, Buzzsaw Yamabe, and Vicente Saldivar.
He would then be stopped in the rubber match with Roberto Duran.
He would campaign another two and a half years, gaining a split duke over Edwin Viruet but then
being stopped in thirteen rounds by junior welterweight champion Saoul Mamby.
Dejesus died of Aids in 1989.
Esteban DeJesus nails Guts Ishimatsu
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