Esteban DeJesus vs Greg Haugen

I like Esteban De Jesus in this match against Greg Haugen, sure Greg was a tough guy but Esteban was slick, a better boxer and could hit with his left hook as well. He decked then WBA Lightweight Champion Roberto Duran in round 1, in a non title 10 rounder on Nov 17 1972, handing Duran his first ever defeat. On March 11 1974, Esteban again floored Duran, this time a title bout, in round 1. Duran recovered to stop De Jesus in round 11. On May 8 1976, Esteban won the WBC Lightweight Tile defeating Guts Ishimatsu by a unanimous decision. In Jan 1978, Esteban and Duran settled it, Roberto stopped De Jesus in round 12 to unify the title. Haugen on Dec 5 1986, won the IBF Lightweight Title by defeating Jimmy Paul, by unanimous decision. He then lost the title on June 7 1987 to Vinny Pazienza. Esteban would be too slick for Greg, he would put up a good fight but he would be unable to keep up with De Jesus, Esteban by unanimous decision.

 

Greg was slicker than DeJesus... without a doubt. Greg had the skills of a 1930's fighter, great cutie style, cut from the old cloth.

If you think Mutt was just a tough guy, you don't know Mutt.

 

Haugen was good but a little overrated once he fought Chavez. He did well against Camacho by squeezing the points out in that fight, and he was technically a decent fighter, but Dejesus was just too good for Haugen. I see a late rounds stoppage. This is the type of quality Haugen came up short against.

 

Dejesus late stoppage.

 

I wonder if they were around the same age and Greg had fought Roberto Duran, would Greg have accused Cholo of fighting a bunch of Panama City cab drivers before they were to fight.

 

Greg was sound and tough and had some decent scalps. But he was a level below DeJesus and that would have shown in a match between the 2.

 

Esteban decision. I think Haugen would give a reasonable account of himself he was tough and could fight.

 

His fight wit Camacho was nowhdere near the level of DeJesus`s three fights with Duran, Camacho wasn`t that great at 140 at all.

 

Haugen was a good fighter at championship level, but he hit his ceiling and it was a lower one than De Jesus'. Esteban always had a guy ahead of him at Lightweight during his peak years...But when that guy is Duran, you could in theory be the second best in history without ever being ranked number one at a particular time. I wouldn't necessarily go that far, but the point is that if Duran hadn't been around at that time, we'd be talking about De Jesus as one of the very greatest Lightweights of all time. Haugen, underrated though he may be, was never getting anywhere near that level regardless of the opposition he'd have been up against.

I know that they were at 140, but De Jesus' woes against Cervantes and Mamby suggest that tall guys who kept it long were a puzzle he'd always have a hard time solving. Compare how he was ineffective outside and reduced to leaping in with shots in those fights with how smooth he looked against Duran and Ishimatsu, where he could jab his way in and probe for openings. Haugen just doesn't pose those kind of problems for him. Haugen had a good jab which he could double, decent defence, was very aggressive with what he did throw even though he wasn't a big puncher etc...But there's nothing there than De Jesus can't see and raise him.

I don't think Haugen gets disgraced, but he does get just a shade outclassed. De Jesus by comfortable decision.

 

Will it be in front of 100,000 taxi divers in San Juan?

 

DeJesus was a multi skilled fighter, not unlike Benitez on some levels, think he would comfortably outpoint Greg prob with out taking too many punches, shame Duran was around at same time, got me thinking a thread of " But for.." so but for Monzon how good could have Valdez been ?

 

Camacho was not prime in 91. And Haughen wouldn't have won if not for Camacho getting docked for refusing to touch gloves.

Prime 1985 Camacho shuts out prime 1986 Haughen.

 

He hit the big time in 1986 when he beat Jimmy Paul for the IBF title.

Neither Camacho or Haughen was prime when they met in 1991.

The optimum time for them to have fought would have been 1986 and if it was pre-Rosario I envision Camacho using his blinding speed of hand and foot underrated power and cat like reflexes to avoid most of Haughens punch ouput while landing plenty of leather to coast to an easy UD.

DeJesus was not as talented as Camacho but as others have pointed out he had good speed and good fundamentals. Haughen had solid fundamentals, but was slower and had worse defense. Haughen would make it competitive but likely lose a UD. I know Haughen edged Paul who was a solid all around boxer, but certainly more mechanical ie textbook in style than prime Dejesus.