Vicente Mijares ~ 'Talented Mexican Lightweight'

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ June 25, 1977

~ Esteban Dejesus Scores 11th Round Knockout In Title Defense ~

~ Dejesus Stops Mijares In One-Sided WBC Championship Bout ~

Esteban Dejesus retained his WBC Lightweight Championship by scoring a Knockout in the 11th Round
over #1 Challenger - Vicente Mijares of Mexico.

Dejesus took charge from the Opening Bell, and chased the Mexican all around the Ring in a one-sided affair,
as he had the Challenger back-pedaling fast during the early going.

Dejesus displaying good power, landed solid-blows in Round 3, drawing blood from the fast-moving
Challenger's nose.

The Champion landed solid blows in Round 5 as well, opening up a small-cut over the Challenger's right-eye.

Mijares was warned in Rounds 6 and 7 from Referee - Raymond Baldayrou for 'not' mixing it up, as the Mexican
moved swiftly around the Perimeter of the Ring by back-pedaling, using poking left-jabs to stay at a safe-distance
as the Champion pressed and stalked.

In Round 8, the Challenger did make an attempt to trade, but was 'rocked' during the exchanges, as the Champion
landed heavy-hooks to the head.

In Round 9, Mijares started to fight back, and mid-way through the session he moved inside, and caught Dejesus
with '2' good left-hooks to the head and 'wicked' right-uppercut to the jaw, which momentarily 'stunned' the muscular
Champion, sending Dejesus back on his heels.

Mijares also added in a good flurry at the end of the session, for his best Round of the night.

But the Champion changed all that in Round 10, as he 'thumped' the Challenger with a battery of combinations and
hooks, opening up the cut over Mijares right-eye, as well as cutting his left-cheek. With Mijares in a bad way, Dejesus moved
in and 'unloaded' with heavy-hooks to the head, and had the Challenger covering up on the Ropes at the Bell.

In Round 11, both fighters traded medium-power punches at Center-Ring. Mijares was able to hold his own over the
first-half of the session, as he kept up with the Champion by dishing out his own fast-flurries.

But the Champion displayed his power, and 'twice' stunned Mijares with hard right-hooks to the head at the {2:00 Mark}.

Then with 'sudden-swiftness', Dejesus fired off a 'left-right', then a wicked right-uppercut, and then caught Mijares with
a 'wicked' left-hook the chin, dropping him 'flat-on-his-back'.

Referee - Raymond Baldayrou counted out the Challenger at {2:20} of Round 11.