Chapter Three
No one is ever satisfied with a split. Imagine if Ali and Frazier had decided enough was enough after their return bout in 1974. Or if Rocky Graziano had said to Tony Zale after winning their second battle, “We each got a win, how bout we leave it at that?” The story isn’t over until a final chapter is written.
The third and final meeting of Roberto Duran and Esteban De Jesus took place in January of 1978, almost four years since their second fight in Panama. The time between had been profitable for both men. Now each held a claim to the world lightweight championship which meant a third fight was keenly anticipated, the stakes even higher. The fight would decide once and for all not only who was the better fighter, but who was the true champion at 135.
De Jesus in training.
Following his loss to Duran, De Jesus regrouped and in 1975 he received a chance at Antonio Cervantes’ super-lightweight title. Knocked down three times, Esteban dropped a 15 round decision to Colombia’s legendary “Kid Pambele.” But the Puerto Rican’s skills and heart were not to be denied again. Several knockout wins set up another shot at a championship and knowing such chances were not unlimited, he made sure the third time was indeed the charm. In front of his compatriots in Bayamon, De Jesus outworked WBC lightweight titlist Guts Ishimatsu over the course of 15 dull rounds to finally realize his dream and become a world champion. Esteban wasted no time resting on his laurels. Within a year he had defended his title belt with three stoppage wins.
During the same time, Roberto Duran had taken his game to a whole other level. Tearing through all challengers put in front of him he was now viewed by many as, pound-for-pound, the best boxer in the world. The numbers from this period speak for themselves. Roberto entered the ring 20 times and he exited the victor 20 times, with only five opponents surviving to hear the final bell. In that same span, Duran produced seven successful title defenses, six by knockout and the question being asked by boxing historians was not whether Roberto Duran deserved to be regarded as a great champion, but whether or not he was the best lightweight champion of all time.
But while virtually all agreed that Roberto Duran was the best lightweight in the world, there was one difficulty to this claim. Another man held a version of the lightweight title. And that man also happened to be the only fighter to ever defeat Duran. The stage was now set for Roberto Duran and Esteban De Jesus to meet a final time with the winner emerging as the unified and undisputed world champion, as well as the victor of their rivalry.
The third and final clash.
Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas played host to Duran vs De Jesus III and due to the magnitude of the event, it was broadcast on live national television. The stakes were higher than ever and the participants were primed and ready.
Roberto had obviously seen a pattern emerge from the first two fights and this time he was cautious of Esteban’s fast start. During the first round he switched gears and used his under-appreciated technical skills. Duran’s constant head movement and brilliant footwork came to the fore, his powerful combinations artfully put together behind an effective jab.
Weathering De Jesus’s initial onslaught through the first few rounds, Duran soon brought the pressure and the heavy artillery to bear. The ever confident Esteban at first laughed off his opponent’s efforts, but a graver mistake could not have been made. For the next twenty minutes Duran never let up and De Jesus could not see how to fend off his oppressor.
In round twelve an overanxious De Jesus left himself open as he attempted to throw a right hand, an error that proved disastrous as Duran beat him to the punch and scored with a perfect right of his own that sent Esteban crashing to the canvas. He rose, with difficulty, but Duran had always been an expert finisher. A series of heavy blows hammered Esteban down again as his corner stopped the bout. The third and final clash was over. Roberto Duran reigned supreme.
De Jesus reels from Duran’s attack.
Epilogue
The trilogy with De Jesus ended Duran’s terrorizing reign at lightweight. He now looked to campaign at welterweight, eager to win another championship and earn huge paydays with some of boxing’s biggest stars. The professional careers of Duran and De Jesus never crossed again. In June of 1980 Duran secured the biggest win of his career when he dethroned welterweight champion Sugar Ray Leonard. The following month De Jesus had his own big opportunity when he challenged former Duran opponent Saoul Mamby for the super-lightweight title. Esteban fell to Mamby by TKO in round 13 in a one-sided contest. It would prove to be his final fight.
Just a few months later, on November 25, 1980, Duran shocked the world once more, this time in a manner none thought possible. In a rematch with Leonard, Duran muttered two words that would haunt him for the rest of his life, “No mas.” He turned his back and quit. This loss was the most humiliating of any elite fighter, especially a macho warrior like Duran. Surrendering so abruptly and easily completely violated the code of the Latin fighter, was tantamount to a crime and many of Roberto’s loyal fans turned on him with a vengeance. It would be years before he could restore his reputation.
Meanwhile, Esteban De Jesus soon found himself involved in a crime far more serious. The former champion had become addicted to drugs and while in the grips of a cocaine binge he murdered a man. His trial and subsequent sentence to life in prison became one of the most scandalous events in Puerto Rican history. Never before had a figure of such renown and esteem crashed so quickly and disgraced himself in such a sudden and violent fashion. But the worst had yet to come.
In prison, De Jesus worked to reform himself, finding solace in religion and becoming a model prisoner. But in 1985 his older brother, with whom he had shared needles in years past when both were using heroin and cocaine, died of AIDS. Soon after Esteban tested positive for the virus and eventually the symptoms began to appear. It was soon evident that the former champion had little time left to live. In a rare moment of mercy, the Puerto Rican government commuted Esteban’s life sentence to house arrest so he could spend his final days among family and friends.
Roberto Duran was one of the most passionate fighters in history and, despite the “No Mas” debacle, he typified the Latino definition of “macho.” A fiery temper coupled with his disdain for Esteban led to one of the fiercest rivalries in Latino boxing history, and a hatred between Duran and the people of Puerto Rico. Roberto never missed a opportunity to disparage the whole state. The sentiment was returned as Puerto Rico hated Roberto Duran with a passion.
But upon hearing of the fragile state of his former rival, Roberto journeyed to Puerto Rico to share one last confrontation with his old foe. And this final encounter defined their rivalry more than any boxing match ever could. Upon witnessing the deathly state of his disease-ridden adversary, Roberto put aside all fear and embraced De Jesus. At the time, AIDS was a largely misunderstood malady; some feared it could be spread through such contact. But Duran ignored such worries. He held and kissed his old rival and even told his daughter to do likewise. The heart of the proud Panamanian proved to be just as strong as his legendary punching power and the ramifications were immediate. The media, and most importantly, the people of Puerto Rico, saw their former enemy in a new light.
Duran embraces De Jesus.
The record of a champion is indisputable. It is defined through his wins and losses inside the ring. The character of a champion is more difficult to define. But on that day in April of 1989, Duran defined his character for millions of Latin Americans in a manner unique and unforgettable.
Esteban De Jesus succumbed to AIDS on May 12th, 1989, leaving behind a sparkling record of 58 wins against only five losses. More importantly, he was Roberto Duran’s fiercest rival. Giving Duran his first loss, he may have awakened the sleeping beast, the true talent of “Hands of Stone,” and helped propel Roberto to his destiny as perhaps the greatest lightweight of all time. But ultimately what lives on is something more than three great fights and 100 minutes of intense boxing action. Most surprisingly, what remains between two warriors after all that combat and competition is respect, and even love. — Zach Dunn
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