Esteban De Jesus 'I Beat Duran So Easy'

Esteban 'Vita' De Jesus

Another one of the those 'talented' fighters from Carolina, Puerto Rico.

And another one, who turned professional before the age of 18, with
guidance from Gregorio 'Goyo' Benitez, the father of 'The Boxing Benitez
Brothers'.

Esteban, at age 17 1/2, turned professional in January 1969, and
after a run of '19' straight wins, and all in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the
5' 4 1/2" 126 lb. Featherweight had a 19-0-0 (14 KO's) record.

With a style similar to that of Heavyweight Champion, 'Smokin Joe' Frazier,
the 'Power-Pack' Esteban was like a 'wrecking ball' in the ring, and
carried with him an 'anvil-type' left hook.

Esteban could be found, working out with the Benitez Boys, primarily the
eldest, Gregorio Jr., also a 126 lb. Featherweight. In 1970, the 15 1/2
year-old Gregorio Jr. was 'pushed' into the professional ranks by his
father 'Papa' Benitez.

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Esteban De Jesus, had a pretty good trainer, in Gregorio 'Papa' Benitez.

Though 'Papa' was an out-right 'scum bag' to his own kids, he was a pretty good
trainer for other boxers.

He turned Esteban from a 'wide-swinging' 126 lb. Featherweight in 1969, to a
'well-built', compact punching 135 lb. Lightweight by mid-1972.

'Papa' Benitez helped Esteban develop a 'rocket-launcher' left-hook counter-punch,
by tying his right hand behind his back, and made Esteban work the left hand over
and over.

 

Esteban De Jesus,

His 'first' big bout was on June 5, 1971

The 19 1/2 year-old Esteban at 19-0-0 - travelled to Caracas, Venezuela to take
on a pretty good Venezuelan Lightweight - Armando 'Mandaloza' Mendoza 17-1-0 (10 KO's).

Esteban got 'rocked' pretty good in the first few rounds, but came on like a 'wrecking ball',
and stopped (TKO 7) Mendoza with a 'barrage' of left hooks.

At 20-0-0 (15 KO's), Esteban proved he was 'the goods'.

 

Esteban 'Vita' De Jesus

Fron Carolina, Puerto Rico

Trained by Gregorio 'Papa' Benitez

Esteban sparred with all the Benitez Brothers, Angel Espada (WBA Welterweight Champion) -
and Samuel Serrano (WBA Super-Featherweight Champion) - and Alfredo Escalara (WBC Super-Featherweight Champion).

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Saturday Night - July 24, 1971

San Juan, Puerto Rico

One-week before his 20th Birthday, Esteban De Jesus 'earned' his biggest victory,
when he defeated the Puerto Rican Lightweight Champion - Josue Marquez by a
'hotly contested' 12-Round Decision.

Despite fighting at 129 lbs., Esteban was the stronger of the 'two'.

Esteban was the 'clear aggressor', but Josue Marquez was effective in his clean
counter-punching, in a closely fought bout.

Scorecard; 115-113 (7-5-0 in Rounds)

Esteban now 21-0-0, was moving up fast in the World Lightweight rankings, and
the 5' 4" 'Power-Pak' broke into the Top 20, by defeating the 'light-punching' but
swift 5' 8" Josue Marquez 26-4-0 (7 KO's)

The win, earned Esteban the Puerto Rican Lightweight Championship, as well as his 'biggest'
fight purse of $2000.

 

August 7, 1971

Just 2-weeks after defeating Josue Marquez -

The 20 year-old - Esteban De Jesus successfully defended his Puerto Rican Lightweight Championship
by scoring an 'impressive' stoppage (KO 4) over 21 year-old - Victor Ortiz 13-3-0 (5 KO's).

Victor Ortiz would go on to fight Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes for the WBA Light-Welterweight
Championship in July 1974.

Esteban dropped Victor 'twice' in the 4th Round, to end matters.

'Vita' De Jesus improved to 22-0-0 (16 KO's), and earned $2000 for the Nights work.

 

Saturday - September 4, 1971

Puerto Rican Lightweight Championship

The 20 year-old - at 130 lbs. - Esteban repeats, with another 12-Round Decision over the
'cagey and swift' Josue Marquez 26-5-0 (7 KO's).

This bout, Esteban clearly wins, as his persistent attack prevents the 'slickster'
Marquez from landing any of his quick counters. Only brief flurries by Marquez in
Rounds 5, 8, and 12 - can prevent a 'shut-out.

Scorecard; 117-111 (9-3-0 in Rounds)

Esteban improves to 23-0-0, and earns his 'biggest' fight purse of $2500.

Looking to gain experience, Gregorio Benitez sends the 20 year-old 5' 4" 130 lb. - Esteban De Jesus
to Caracas, Venezuela for a 4-bout contract.

 

At the end of 1971,

The 'undefeated' 20 year-old - Esteban De Jesus popped in a few wins in Venezuela,
including a victory (W Dec 10) over #6 ranked Super-Featherweight - Leonel Hernandez.

December 10, 1971

And then was matched up with WBA Featherweight Champion - Antonio Gomez in a
130 lb. non-title bout. The 26 year-old - Antonio Gomez 36-3-0 (18 KO's), used his experience
to hold off the 'spark-plug' Esteban De Jesus, and hand the Puerto Rican Super-Featherweight
and #4 WBA-ranked 130 lb. fighter his first loss, by winning a close hard-fought 10-Round Decision.

Esteban returned to Puerto Rico with a 26-1-0 (18 KO's) record, but with added experience.

 

One question at a time.

Gregorio Benitez, who was Esteban's 'trainer', sent him to Venezuela in late-1971,
where he hooked up with Ramiro Machado (big fight manager/promoter in Colombia
and Venezuela).

As for the bout with WBA Featherweight - Antonio Gomez, it was a non-title bout
fought at 131 lbs., in Caracas.

The 5' 6 1/2" boxer-puncher - Antonio Gomez was a 'Lion', as he would jab you
silly with his 'paw', then pounce on you and use his strength to 'maul' you.

Antonio Gomez boxed, and stayed away from the 5' 4" spark-plug Esteban, by snapping
non-stop jabs at De Jesus. Antonio never got into any heavy-exchanges with Esteban,
and stayed on the outside, making De Jesus lunge at him.

Esteban did put on some good pressure in Rounds 4, 5 and 6, but Gomez was a little too
sharp, and a little too cagey to get caught by the stronger 20 year-old.

After '7-Rounds', the bout was 'Even'.

Antonio pulled away from the 'closely fought bout' in Rounds 8 and 9, when he was
able to score with several 3-punch combinations, that snapped Esteban's head back.

Scorecards {96-94 / 97-95 / 97-95 }

Winner - Antonio 'El Leon de Cumana' Gomez

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