WHY NOT ESTEBAN?

I got really ticked off a few weeks back when Twinkie Dan said he looked forward to voting for Joel Casamayor for the HOF. 7-4-1 against ranked fighters. 37-5 record. Biggest win was over a non-HOF quality guy in Diego Corrales. Casamayor has been a fine, fine fighter. But a HOFer?

Just nuts in my view.

It made me think about another guy, Esteban de Jesus. A short, slick, pie faced and very flashy Puerto Rican lightweight. He finished 58-5 and three of his losses were to HOFers. Let's do a quick career review. After going unbeaten for his first 20 fights facing the usual never weres, Esteban stepped up.

Josue Marquez-Marquez would later go on to challenge HOFer Antonio "Kid Pambele" Cervantes for the 140 crown and come away a split decision loser. In three fights over six months for the Puerto Rican lightweight title DeJesus wins twice by decision and then knocks Marquez out.

Victor Ortiz-Had gone 12 with Marquez, would have two wins over Saoul Mamby, a win over past 140 king Eddie Perkins and a win over the man who shocked Bazooka Gomez Alfonso Frazer. The only other man ever to KO him would be a HOFer. DeJesus KO4.

Leonel Hernandez-Would later go on to defeat the marvelous Eernesto Marcel and would challenge for titles five times and go 0-4 and get a draw with Alfredo Escalera. DeJesus goes to Venezuela and in front of Hernandez's home crowd comes away with a decision. UD10.

Antonio Gomez-The #1 ranked feather in the world and the holder of 50% of the crown already has a win over HOFer Kid Pambele. He hands DeJesus his first defeat in an over the weight fight. UD10.

Roberto Duran-One of the ten greatest ever to lace'm up. Unbeaten at 31-0 and the lightweight champion. In an over the weight fight MSG DeJesus knocks Duran down in the first round and wins a clear decision. UD10.

Ray Lampkin-This is one seriously tough dude. He is unbeaten and ranked #5. He will later go fourteen brutal rounds with Duran in Panama City before succumbing. Esteban controls the fight from beginning to end. UD12. Five months later Esteban dominates him again. UD12.

Johnny Gant-Ranked #8 at 140, he will later fight Ray Leonard at welter. De Jesus beats him at home. UD10.

Alfonso Frazer-Ranked #2 at 140 he has twice challenged Kid Pambele and lost but he has a win over HOFer Nicolino Locche. Esteban drills him in ten. KO10.

Duran II-This time it is for the lightweight title. Once again he floors Duran in the first. But this time Duran rights the ship and wears De Jesus down and finishes him. KO11.

Antonio Cervantes-The HOFer is the reigning 140 champion. DeJesus moves up to challenge him. Pambele is at his absolute peak and he hammers DeJesus for fifteen rounds. UD15.

Guts Ishimatsu-A proper nickname for this Japanese warrior. He is ranked #3 at 135 and holds the belt Roberto Duran doesn't. His only loss in the last five years was to Duran and he has a win over HOFer Ken Buchanan. DeJesus pitches a shutout and wins a belt at 135. UD15.

Hector Julio Medina-The Dominican is unbeaten and ranked #4 at 135. He is a punching machine. 24 of his 28 wins are by KO. DeJesus ruins him. KO8 and Medina never wins another fight.

Buzzsaw Yamabe-Has twice challenged Alfredo Escalera for the 130 crown and is now ranked #10 at 135. The Japanese lefty takes on Esteban and gets crushed. TKO6.

Vicente Mijares Saldivar-This is NOT the HOFer. He is the uncle of Christian Mijares. At this point he is unbeaten, and though only 12-0 he has two wins over ranked welter Randy Shields and a win over ranked 135 Vilomar Fernandez. Saldivar is ranked #2 at 135. Dejesus knocks him out and he is never the same. TKO11.

Duran III-This one is ALL Duran. From beginning to end. This fight cements the difference between an ATG fighter and merely a great one. Duran out counterpunches the counterpuncher. TKO12.

Edwin Viruet-The better of the slick southpaw brother. He is ranked #4 and had gone 15 with Duran less than a year before. This one is a nip and tuck fight but De Jesus gets the nod. SD10.

This is really the end for Esteban. He challenges Saoul Mamby for the 140 crown adn he is KO'd in 13 rounds. The he gets into a car accident and shoots a teenager and is jailed until he dies of AIDS at 37.

But let's review. Eleven wins over ranked guys. The first man to defeat Roberto Duran and a couple of other pretty good wins. Three of his five losses were to HOFers.

Now does Esteban de Jesus belong in the Hall? I don't really know. But he accomplished one hell of a lot more than Joel Casamayor! You listening Dan?