Esteban DeJesus vs. Shinji 'Buzzsaw' Yamabe ~ February 12, 1977

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ February 12, 1977

Juan Ramon Loubriel Baseball Stadium ~ Bayamon, Puerto Rico

~ WBC Lightweight Championship ~

Televised by ......... CBS-TV 'CBS Sports Spectacular'

* Esteban 'Vita' Dejesus - 47-3-0 {28 KO's} ~ 5' 4 1/2" ~ 135 lbs. ~ {Age 25 years, 6 months}
vs.
* Shinji 'Buzzaw' Yamabe - 26-6-2 {17 KO's} - 5' 3" ~ 135 lbs. ~ {Age; 24 years, 10 months}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Good Old Days, when CBS gave us those great Saturday Afternoon bouts.

[Bill Paxtom]

This bout was promoted by Don King.

Don King was also trying to 'angle in', and get Esteban to sign a fight Roberto Duran
for July 1977.

Juan Ramon Loubriel Baseball Stadium had a capacity of 12,500.

Don King was 'predicting' a near sell-out of 10,000 with an estimated Gate of $150,000
for this Saturday Afternoon bout, which was broadcast on CBS-TV.

CBS-TV bought the Television Rights to broadcast the bout for $110,000.

Don King gave Esteban Dejesus > a fight purse of $70,000 > plus $7000 in Training Expenses.

Esteban also negotiated for 15% of the Gate Receipts {Net}.

Esteban had last fought {defended} his WBC Lightweight Championship 5-Months earlier, on
September 10, 1976 when he stopped {KO 7} 'dangerous-punching' Hector Julio Medina.

The 'word' going around, was that in late-1976 > Esteban was behaving badly {partying heavily},
and was letting his talent waste away.

But, in late-December 1976 > Esteban really got straightened out, and trained very hard for {6-Weeks]
to prepare for this bout.

In Training, the 'new word' was > Esteban had looked to be in the best shape he had been in the last
3-years {since 1974}.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ February 12, 1977

Esteban Dejesus {5' 4 1/2"} ......... Shinji 'Buzzsaw' Yamabe {5' 3"}

[Bill Paxtom]

Shinji 'Buzzsaw' Yamabe

A 'power-pack' 5' 3" southpaw. The Buzzsaw-style, was a non-stop aggressive action,
by moving forward and staying on the offensive.

What 'Buzzsaw' lacked in size and skills, he made up for it with heart, stamina and desire.

That style made him a fan-favorite wherever he fought.

Though born in Japan, 'Buzzsaw' Yamabe campaigned in Hawaii.

He was managed and trained by the legendary > Larry Ichinose

Early in his career > 'Buzzsaw' also had a 5-Month stint at the Olympic Auditorium in 1972 >
from March 9th -thru- August 31st, where he went unbeaten in '6-Bouts' at { 4-0-2 }.

A Professional for 6-Years {since June 22, 1971}, Yamabe had big wins over World Class fighters in >
* Miguel Mayan
* Jorge Rodriguez
* Mario Roman
* Masataka Takayama {For the Japanese Lightweight Championship on July 2, 1973}
* Lino Cordero

Yamabe was 'upset' on February 18, 1974 > when he was stopped {L KO 9} by previous foe
Masataka Takayama, as he lost his Japanese Lightweight Championship.

On July 2, 1974 > Yamabe lost a tough {L Dec 10} to 'World-Rated' - Ray Lunny 'III" in his
hometown of San Francisco > a Decision which was disputed.

Yamabe did bounce back, and went undefeated at 7-0-0 with {5 KO's} for the next year
October 1, 1974 -thru- September 21, 1975.

Included, 'Buzzsaw' had scored a big win {W Dec 10} over 'highly-touted' Javier Muniz on
August 6, 1975 at the Olympic Auditorium.

Though his wins were at 135 lbs. in the Lightweight Division, Yamabe decided to drop to
130 lbs. and campaign as a Super-Featherweight.

'Buzzsaw' was offered a 130 lb. World Title bout with Alfredo Escalera for the WBA Super-Featherweight
Championship on April 1, 1976.

In a 'controversial bout' in Japan, 'Buzzsaw' suffered a badly swollen left-eye, courtesy of a wicked
right-hook by the Champion in Round 3. But Yamabe came back to have a very good 4th and 5th
Rounds, and was coming on strong, before an 'over-cautious' Referee called a halt to the bout in
Round 6, awarding a TKO 6 win for the 'visiting' Champion - Alfredo Escalera.

A 'protest' was filed by the Yamabe Camp, and a rematch was 'mandated' by the WBA, and within
90-Days.

On July 1, 1976 > the fighters did it again, This time the Champion - Alfredo Escalera
won by a 'solid' 15-Round Decision. But 'Buzzsaw' put in a quality effort in a competitive bout.

Following the loss, Yamabe decided to move back up to his more comfortable weight, as a
135 lb. Lightweight.

A quick victory {KO 5} over Filipono - Mar 'Sea Base' Basa on September 15th, got 'Buzzsaw'
back on his winning way.

On November 16, 1976 > 'Buzzsaw' took on former #1 Lightweight Contender - Arturo 'Tury' Pineda
in a WBC Lightweight Elimination bout. Despite being an underdog, 'Buzzsaw' overwhelmed Pineda
during the 2nd-Half of the bout, and scored a 'mild-upset' {TKO 8} win.

That win put 'Buzzsaw' Yamabe in line for this Championship Bout.

[Beanz]

[Bill Paxtom]

Excellent Film Footage

Pre-Fight Estimates by Don King {Fight Promoter}
Attendance ............ { 10,000 }
Gate Receipts ........ { $150,000 }

Actual >
Attendance .......... { 6300 } ..... Capacity; 12,500
Gate Receipts ...... $82,500

Fight Purses
* Esteban Dejesus ....... $70,000 ~ Plus $7000 in Training Expenses ~ Plus 15% Of the Gate Receipts = $12,375 .... Total > $89,375

* 'Buzzsaw' Yamabe .... $10,000 ~ Plus $2500 in Training Expenses ~ Broadcast Rights to Japan and Hawaii = $7200 .. Total > $19,700

'Buzzsaw' Yamabe also received '3' Round-Trip Airline Tickets from Hawaii to Puerto Rico, and Hotel Expenses and related expenses.

[Bill Paxtom]

Overview

2-Weeks earlier, Esteban Dejesus was in Miami, Florida > watching Roberto Duran take
out 'crafty' Vilomar Fernandez in 13 Rounds.

Esteban was 'not' impressed with Roberto's performance, and stated as such.

For this bout, which was signed for in md-December 1976. Esteban had 2-Months to
prepare, after having his last bout on September 10th against #1 WVC-ranked
Hector Julio Medina.

Esteban trained very hard for this bout, as he wanted to be in top physical condition.

As you can see,

In the 1st-Round, Esteban looked very strong against the 'aggressive' Challenger. Dejesus
who had a 'wicked fast' left-hook, now displayed a 'potent' right-cross.

In an action-packed 1st-Round, both Esteban and 'Buzzsaw' started trading bombs at the
{0:50 Mark}. Esteban 'shook' the Challenger with a 'right-left' to the head, and then
drove him to the back-right Ring area.

There, both exchanged brutal punches. 'Buzzsaw', though out-strengthed, would not back
down, and attempted to trade with the stronger Champion.

Then in a 'wild-exchange', Esteban caught the Challenger with a 'right-cross' to the head
at the {1:24 Mark}, driving 'Buzzsaw' into the Ropes, where he turned sideways.

Esteban then unloaded on his 'stunned' Challenger with a 'right-left-right'. Yamabe then
slowly went to the canvas at the {1:26 Mark}.

But he rose at the '2-Count', and was ready to go on.

Esteban then 'poured-it-on' in an attempt to finish the 'dazed' Challenger. But 'Buzzsaw' took
everything that Esteban could unload, while getting driven into the left-side Ropes.

Then the tough Japanese fighter came back with his own attack over the last 10-Seconds
of the Round.

An exciting 1st-Round, no doubt.