47 years ago
Esteban De Jesus vs Buzzsaw Yamabe
Date: 12th February 1977
Venue: Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamon, Puerto RicoTitle: WBC World Lightweight Title
Esteban De Jesus
(
48
-
3
-
0
)
Weight: 135 lbs
Buzzsaw Yamabe
(
26
-
6
-
2
)
Weight: 135 lbs
DeJesus was making the second defence of the title he won from Japan's Guts Ishimatsu on the 8th May 1976 when he faced Buzzsaw Yamabe at home in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
Yamabe, a Japanese fighter living in Honolulu, Hawaii, had twice failed to win the WBC World Super-featherweight Crown from Puerto Rico's Alfredo Escalera, both bouts taking place in Kashihara, Japan in 1976.
De Jesus outboxed Yamabe from the first bell, eventually dropping him twice in the 6th round, and although he got back to his feet on both occasions, referee Tony Perez halted the fight at 2:06 of the round.
De Jesus was the first fighter to defeat Roberto Duran and the only one ever at lightweight. Duran was dropped in the first round of their first two bouts.
De Jesus died from AIDS at 37-years-old on May 12th 1989.