Vicente Mijares ~ 'Talented Mexican Lightweight'

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ June 25, 1977

Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium ~ Bayoman, Puerto Rico

Promoter .......... Don King
Attendance ....... 5500 ... {Capacity; 12,500}

WBC Lightweight Championship

* Esteban Dejesus - 50-3-0 {29 KO's} ~ 5' 4 1/2" ~ 135 lbs. ~ {Age; 25 years, 10 months}
vs.
#1 Vicente Mijares - 24-0-0 {11 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 135 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 5 months}
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~ The Skinny ~

Esteban DeJesus will be making the 3rd-Title defense of WBC Championship he won back on
May 8, 1976.

This bout was 'originally' scheduled for May 13th, but Esteban requested a 6-Week postponement,
claiming a hand-injury {left-hand}.

On the line, is not only the WBC Lightweight Championship, but a $250,000 fight purse to face
Roberto Duran for later in the year.

Vicente Mijares has been at the 'top' of the Lightweight Division for 18-Months {since November 1975},
and the Mexican 'master-boxer' has been waiting a long time for a World Title bout.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny 'II'

Esteban has looked good in sparring with Brooklyn, New York 'southpaw' Lightweight - Carlos Soto,
a fast-handed boxer.

Also, former WBA Welterweight Champion - Angel Espada has come in to help out Esteban in some
later sessions.

Vicente Mijares arrived with Arizona Lightweight - Arturo Leon, a compact and strong boxer. Vicente
has looked both sharp-and-quick in sparring sessions.

Harry Kabakoff >
"We expect Esteban to come out fast, and to try and get in his hard left-hooks. That is where we will
be careful. Vicente will box and move for the first-half of the bout, and then take care of business over
the second-half of the bout. Esteban will not be able to match Vicente in hand-speed, especially
late in the bout."

"My boy will surprise everybody. We will stop Dejesus on 'cuts', mark my words. Vicente has fast and
'slashing-fists'. Our strategy is in {3 Parts}."

"Part 1, is to stay away from Dejesus for the first 6-Rounds. > Part 2, is to box him for 4 or 5 Rounds,
until he starts to fade around the 10th or 11th Round. > Part 3, is to open up on him in Round 12.
Vicente will 'slash' him up late, and stop in the 13th or 14th Round."