Esteban de Jesús

Puerto Rican boxer
The basics

Quick Facts

IntroPuerto Rican boxer
A.K.A.Esteban De Jesus
A.K.A.Esteban De Jesus
PlacesPuerto Rico
wasAthlete Boxer
Work fieldSports
Gender
Male
Birth2 August 1951, Carolina, Puerto Rico, U.S.A.
Death11 May 1989San Juan, Puerto Rico, U.S.A. (aged 37 years)
The details

Biography

Esteban de Jesús (August 2, 1951 – May 12, 1989) was a Puerto Rican world lightweight champion boxer whose life was full of controversy, problems and scandals. De Jesús, a native of the town of Carolina, Puerto Rico, was a gymmate of Wilfred Benítez and an acquaintance of Benitez's mother, Clara Benítez. He was trained by Wilfredo's father and Clara's husband, Gregorio Benitez. He was the first boxer to defeat Roberto Durán as a pro.

Professional career

De Jesús debuted as a professional in 1969, beating El Tarita by a knockout in round three in San Juan. He won his first twenty fights, thirteen by knockout and then stepped up in class, for the first time, when he boxed future world title challenger Josue Marquez in 1971, beating him in a ten round decision. His next fight was a fourth round knockout victory over Victor Ortíz. After that, there was a rematch with Marquez, who was beaten again, this time over twelve rounds.

Next came his first international fight, in Caracas, Venezuela, against the future four-time world title challenger Leonel Hernandez. De Jesús won the ten round fight by unanimous decision in what was the start of a four fight tour of Venezuela. That Venezuelan campaign ended with a ten round decision loss against former world champion Antonio Gomez in Caracas.

1972 was a pivotal year in de Jesús' career. He won six fights in a row, including a twelve round knockout win in a third fight with Marquez, and a ten round decision over Doug McClendon. Despite all the wins, he was virtually unknown to most boxing fans. That changed quickly in his last fight of 1972 against the undefeated new world's Lightweight champion Roberto Durán at the Madison Square Garden arena. In a televised bout that marked the beginning of the "Durán - de Jesús trilogy", de Jesús dropped Durán in round one and went on to inflict Durán's first defeat in a ten round decision.

In 1973, he was rewarded for his efforts, receiving a chance to challenge Ray Lampkin for the North American Boxing Federation lightweight belt. He won the vacant title by beating Lampkin in a twelve round decision. He went on to beat Johnny Gant and Raul Montoya in ten round decisions and beat Lampkin by decision in a rematch in New York. He finished 1973 with a first round knockout win over fringe contender Al Foster.

He began 1974 by knocking out former world Jr. Welterweight champion Alfonso "Peppermint" Frazer in ten rounds in San Juan, Puerto Rico, after which he traveled to Panama City to receive his first world title shot and, at the same time, face Durán in the second fight of their trilogy. He once again dropped Durán in round one, but this time Durán rebounded and dominated the bout, retaining the title in an eleventh round knockout. He recovered from that defeat with two more wins before the end of the year.

In 1975, he went up in weight briefly, and after beating Jesse Lara by a knockout in three, he returned to Panama City to challenge Colombia's Antonio Cervantes for the world's Jr. Welterweight title, losing in a fifteen round decision. He beat Rudy Barros by knockout in round five to end that year, and started 1976 by beating Valentin Ramos by knockout in round two.

Next came his third world title try when the WBC's world Lightweight champion Ishimatsu Suzuki of Japan traveled to Puerto Rico to defend his title against de Jesús. The third time proved to be the charm for de Jesús, who won the world title by beating Suzuki in a fifteen round decision. He retained the title against Hector Medina with a knockout in round seven.

De Jesús admitted publicly to using drugs during his boxing career. He began using cocaine and heroin early in his boxing career with an older brother, Enrique.

In 1977, he retained the title against Buzzsaw Yamabe by knockout in round six and against Vicente Mijares Saldivar by knockout in round eleven.

1978 began with the third and final chapter of his trilogy with Durán. In a title unification bout in Las Vegas, which displayed Durán at the peak of his power, Durán systematically broke down de Jesús resulting in a twelfth round knockout.

De Jesús rebounded with three wins before the end of that year, including one over former world title challenger Edwin Viruet.

In 1979, he had two more wins, including one over Jimmy Blevins. After beating Jose Vallejo by a knockout in round seven in San Juan to start 1980, he traveled to Bloomington, Minnesota, to challenge Saoul Mamby for Mamby's WBC world Jr. Welterweight title, in the major supporting event of the Larry Holmes-Scott Le Doux world heavyweight championship bout's undercard. In what turned out to be his last fight, he was beaten by a knockout in thirteen rounds.

His record was 57 wins and 5 losses, with 32 wins by knockout.

Professional record

58 Wins (33 Knockouts, 25 Decision), 5 Losses, 0 Draws
Res.RecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
Loss58-5 Saoul MambyTKO13 (15)1980-07-07 Metropolitan Sports Center, Bloomington, Minnesota, United StatesFor WBC World Super Lightweight title.
Win58-4 Jose VallejoKO7 (10)1980-05-10 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win57-4 Ruby OrtizUD101979-11-09 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win56-4 Jimmy BlevinsUD101979-10-04 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win55-4 Edwin ViruetSD101978-10-27 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win54-4 Chuchu HernandezTKO2 (8)1978-07-08 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win53-4 Pablo BaezTKO3 (8)1978-06-03 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Loss52-4 Roberto DuránTKO12 (15)1978-01-21 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesLost WBC World Lightweight title.
For WBA World Lightweight title.
Win52-3 James BrackettUD101977-09-10 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win51-3 Vicente MijaresKO11 (15)1977-06-25 Loubriel Stadium, Bayamon, Puerto RicoRetained WBC World Lightweight title.
Win50-3 Buzzsaw YamabeTKO6 (15)1977-02-12 Loubriel Stadium, Bayamon, Puerto RicoRetained WBC World Lightweight title.
Win49-3 Hector Julio MedinaKO7 (15)1976-09-10 Loubriel Stadium, Bayamon, Puerto RicoRetained WBC World Lightweight title.
Win48-3 Guts IshimatsuUD151976-05-08 Loubriel Stadium, Bayamon, Puerto RicoWon WBC World Lightweight title.
Win47-3 Valente RamosTKO2 (10)1976-03-06 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win46-3 Rudy BarroTKO5 (10)1975-10-11 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Loss45-3 Antonio CervantesUD151975-05-17 Panama City, PanamaFor WBA World Super Lightweight title.
Win45-2 Jesse LaraKO3 (10)1975-03-15 El Poliedro, Caracas, Venezuela
Win44-2 Javier AyalaUD101974-09-02 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win43-2 Gerardo FerratTKO5 (10)1974-06-10 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Loss42-2 Roberto DuránKO11 (15)1974-03-16 Panama City, PanamaFor WBA World Lightweight title.
Win42-1 Alfonso FrazerKO10 (10)1974-01-07 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win41-1 Al FosterKO1 (10)1973-11-22 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win40-1 Miguel MayanUD101973-10-29 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win39-1 Radames ChecoKO1 (12)1973-09-08 Panama City, Panama
Win38-1 Ray LampkinUD121973-07-14 Felt Forum, New York, New York, United StatesRetained NABF Lightweight title.
Win37-1 Raul MontoyaUD101973-05-21 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win36-1 Johnny GantUD101973-04-16 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win35-1 Ray LampkinUD121973-02-16 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto RicoWon vacant NABF Lightweight title.
Win34-1 Roberto DuránUD101972-11-17 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win33-1 Doc McClendonUD101972-10-30 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win32-1 Raymundo DiasUD101972-09-18 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win31-1 Chuck WilburnUD101972-07-28 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win30-1 Angel Robinson GarciaUD101972-07-08 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win29-1 Josue MarquezTKO12 (12)1972-05-01 Felt Forum, New York, New York, United StatesRetained Puerto Rican Lightweight title.
Win28-1 George FosterTKO8 (10)1972-04-10 Felt Forum, New York, New York, United States
Win27-1 Percy HaylesUD101972-02-14 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Loss26-1 Antonio GomezUD101971-12-10 Caracas, Venezuela
Win26-0 Milton MendezKO5 (10)1971-10-30 Caracas, Venezuela
Win25-0 Frank LeroyKO7 (10)1971-10-20 Caracas, Venezuela
Win24-0 Leonel HernandezUD101971-10-06 Caracas, Venezuela
Win23-0 Josue MarquezUD121971-09-04 San Juan, Puerto RicoRetained Puerto Rican Lightweight title.
Win22-0 Victor OrtizKO4 (10)1971-08-07 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win21-0 Josue MarquezUD121971-07-24 San Juan, Puerto RicoWon Puerto Rican Lightweight title.
Win20-0 Armando MendozaTKO7 (10)1971-06-05 Caracas, Venezuela
Win19-0 Gustavo BricenoUD101971-05-05 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win18-0 Johnny HarpUD101971-04-12 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win17-0 Jose LlanoKO7 (10)1970-10-19 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win16-0 Johnny SandovalUD101970-09-30 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win15-0 Tommy ShafferKO8 (10)1970-07-09 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win14-0 Coverly Kid DanielsKO6 (10)1970-05-12 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win13-0 Jose JimenezUD101970-04-30 Ponce, Puerto Rico
Win12-0 Ike EstradaKO5 (10)1970-04-06 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win11-0 Bobby ParnellKO1 (10)1970-03-28 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win10-0 Braulio RodriguezTKO8 (10)1970-02-28 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win9-0 Chino GuerreroTKO3 (10)1970-02-14 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win8-0 Martin CuelloKO2 (10)1970-01-24 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win7-0 Ivelaw EastmanKO5 (8)1969-11-22 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win6-0 Kid Matt SheffieldTKO2 (8)1969-10-19 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win5-0 Ramon MontesKO3 (6)1969-09-27 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win4-0 Johnny SandovalUD61969-08-23 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win3-0 Francisco MaldonadoKO3 (6)1969-08-02 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win2-0 Braulio RodriguezKO4 (6)1969-07-21 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win1-0 El TaritaKO2 (6)1969-02-10 San Juan, Puerto RicoProfessional Debut.
Preceded by
Guts Ishimatsu
WBC Lightweight Champion
8 May 1976–21 Jan 1978
Succeeded by
Roberto Durán

After boxing

On the Thanksgiving weekend of 1980, in what became a famous case in Puerto Rico, after having injected himself with cocaine, de Jesús was involved in a traffic dispute with 17-year-old Roberto Cintron Gonzalez and fatally shot Gonzalez in the head. He was sentenced to life in prison. There, he excelled in another sport, baseball, making the Puerto Rico penal system all star team three times. In 1984, he became a born-again Christian and started to turn his life around, becoming a preacher.

In 1985, he learned that Enrique, with whom he had shared needles, had died of AIDS. De Jesús tested positive for the virus, and symptoms began to appear. After it became public knowledge that de Jesús had acquired HIV and had become a sufferer of AIDS, governor Rafael Hernández Colón pardoned him.

After returning to spend his last days with his family, de Jesús was visited by many celebrities, including hall of fame baseball player Orlando Cepeda, Salsa music superstar Cheo Feliciano and his old nemesis Roberto Durán. Durán hugged and kissed de Jesús and told his daughter to do the same. This event was witnessed by José Torres who said he was amazed to see Durán's compassionate gesture as he lifted de Jesús out of his bed and hugged him at a time when so little was known and so much feared about AIDS.[1]

Esteban de Jesús died one month after being pardoned at the age of 37.

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