BoxRec

On Saturday, March 16, 1974, in Panama City, Panama, WBA World Lightweight Champion, the great Roberto Duran of Panama defended successfully his crown by stopping tough challenger Esteban De Jesus of Puerto Rico.

Duran avenges his first professional defeat on this day. Duran, who was decked in the first round for their first time in November 1972 in New York City, was also decked by De Jesus again in the very first round in Panama City.

But, this time, Duran regrouped and started a vicious attack for the next ten rounds. It was a very fast paced fight in the Panamanian country heat.

Duran pressed and pressed the attack. De Jesus was trying to match his pace but went down in round 7. By round 9, De Jesus was ready to quit.

The fight was over in the eleventh. De Jesus was counted out and Duran successfully defends his crown for the fourth time.

Your thoughts.

When the Panamanian crowd that were exhorting their champion Roberto Duran saw that he was decked to the canvas in the very first round, the people didn't believe it. It was very astonishing to see their hero down in the canvas by the same man almost two years earlier.

Some of them thought, "Oh, shit! The very same thing is going to happen here in Panama!" But, Duran, this time, didn't let them down.

Duran when he went down, was much more stunned than hurt. Embarrassed to say the least.

It was one of the greatest title fights in the history of the lightweight class.

Duran was only 22. Esteban De Jesus was 23. Both fighters only had one loss in their records.

Also on this rematch, both fighters were with a fantastic record of 41-1.

De Jesus gave it a real go for three rounds but then went into survival mode as Duran walked him down. A body shot in round 11 persuaded De Jesus to call it a night.

The latest news on 'Hands of Stone' is that he is in hospital at the moment and he is in a very delicate state and that we pray for him. I hope he pulls through whatever it is but here is a link about his present condition (in Spanish...)

https://trome.com/opinion/el-buho/pico- ... n-noticia/