Esteban De Jesus vs Buzzsaw Yamabe

On February 12, 1977, Esteban de Jesús successfully defended his WBC World Lightweight Title against Buzzsaw Yamabe at the Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. De Jesús, who had won the title from Guts Ishimatsu on May 8, 1976, was making his second title defence. Yamabe, a Japanese fighter based in Honolulu, Hawaii, had previously attempted to capture the WBC World Super-featherweight title from Alfredo Escalera but was unsuccessful in both attempts.

The fight was one-sided from the start, with De Jesús dominating Yamabe from the opening bell. His superior boxing skills allowed him to control the pace of the fight, landing precise combinations that left Yamabe struggling to keep up. The decisive moment came in the sixth round when De Jesús dropped Yamabe twice with powerful left and right hooks. Although Yamabe managed to rise both times, he appeared severely dazed, prompting referee Tony Perez to stop the fight at 2:06 of the round. This victory improved De Jesús' record to 50-3, with 29 knockouts.

De Jesús's performance against Yamabe showcased his formidable boxing skills. He was known for his ability to outbox opponents, and his victory over Yamabe was no exception. De Jesús' career was marked by significant achievements, including being the first and only fighter to defeat Roberto Durán at lightweight. Durán, a legendary boxer, was dropped in the first round of their first two bouts, highlighting De Jesús' formidable punching power and technical ability.

The financial aspects of the fight reflected De Jesús' status as a titleholder. He earned a purse of $70,000, while Yamabe received $10,000 plus $2,500 in expenses. The event drew an attendance of 6,000 spectators, indicating a strong local interest in De Jesús' title defence. Post-fight, Yamabe acknowledged De Jesús' superiority, stating that he lost the fight in the first round after being caught with a solid jaw right and never recovered.

De Jesús passed away at the age of 37 due to complications from AIDS. Despite his untimely death, his legacy in boxing remains significant, particularly in Puerto Rico, where he was part of a golden era of boxing that included other notable figures like Wilfredo Gómez and Wilfred Benítez. The Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, where De Jesús faced Yamabe, has hosted numerous significant boxing events, contributing to Puerto Rico's rich history.