| Fight Date: | November 17, 1972 |
| Fight Name: | Roberto Durán vs. Esteban de Jesús |
| Location: | Madison Square Garden in New York, New York |
| Fighter1: | Roberto Durán |
| Nickname1: | Manos de Piedra ("Hands of Stone") |
| Record1: | 31–0 |
| Hometown1: | Panama City, Panama |
| Height1: | 5 ft 7+1/2 in |
| Weight1: | 138 lb |
| Style1: | Orthodox |
| Recognition1: | WBA and The Ring lightweight champion |
| Fighter2: | Esteban de Jesús |
| Nickname2: | Vita |
| Record2: | 32–1 |
| Hometown2: | Carolina, Puerto Rico |
| Height2: | 5 ft 4+1/2 in |
| Weight2: | 138 lb |
| Style2: | Orthodox |
| Result: | de Jesús wins via UD (6–3, 6–2, 5–4) |
Roberto Durán vs. Esteban de Jesús was a professional boxing match contested on November 17, 1972. The fight was the first in the famed Durán–de Jesús trilogy of the 1970s. Though Durán held both the WBA and The Ring lightweight titles, neither was on the line.
Five months prior, undefeated Roberto Durán had defeated reigning WBA lightweight champion Ken Buchanan to claim the title for himself.[1] Durán would then take on two unheralded journeymen in Greg Potter and Lupe Ramirez, knocking out both inside of the first round. Original plans called for Durán to face Buchanan in a championship rematch on October 20 in Madison Square Garden, but Durán broke the agreement.[2] Instead, on November 1st, Durán agreed to face top ranked lightweight contender Esteban de Jesús in a non-title bout on November 17th.[3]
Though de Jesús was ranked as the number-three lightweight in the world, Durán's WBA and The Ring lightweight titles were not on the line as Durán claimed that the Military Leader of Panama Omar Torrijos had forbidden him from making his first defense outside of Panama, which was scheduled to take place the following January. Unbothered by being denied a shot at the title, de Jesús stated "When I knock him out, they'll have to give me a title fight. It doesn't make any difference, I'll get him sooner or later."[4] As Durán's lightweight title was not on the line, both fighters fought above the 135-pound lightweight limit at 138 pounds.
In the first round, de Jesús landed a left hook to Durán's chin that dropped Durán to the mat for the first time in his career. From there on, de Jesús thoroughly outboxed Durán, constantly landing punches from long range and frustrating the usually aggressive Durán, who was warned twice in the fifth round for hitting after a break and a low-blow. The fight would go the full 10-round distance with de Jesús being awarded a unanimous decision victory with scores of 6–3 (one round even) 6–2 (two rounds even) and 5–4 (one round even). This was Durán's first professional loss and his only loss while competing as a lightweight.[5]
| Weight Class | Weight | vs. | Method | Round | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catchweight | 138 lbs. | Esteban de Jesús | def. | Roberto Durán | UD | 10/10 | |
| Lightwight | 135 lbs. | Vilomar Fernandez | def. | Gregorio Benitez | UD | 6/6 | |
| Super Lightweight | 140 lbs. | Richie Villanueva | def. | Enrique Piton | TKO | 3/6 | |
| Lightweight | 135 lbs. | Jerome Artis | def. | Hector Diaz | PTS | 4/4 | |
| Super Lightweight | 140 lbs. | Carlos Gonzalez | def. | Bernard Almonte | PTS | 4/4 |