Duran-DeJesus III

[Gallegos Boxing Gym]

DeJesus was a very good fighter. Anyone who knows anything about this sport can readily witness his excellence jumping off the screen.

I think his exclusion from the Hall of Fame is correct, however. His actual accomplishments are more on par, in my mind, with a Terrence Alli or someone of that ilk. That could be overstating it a bit, but I don't think he's near any of the top 5 PR fighters.

The win over Duran looms large, perhaps more than any non-title win over a champ in history. I don't see any other fighter's career buoyed by such a win to the level DeJesus enjoys. He beat several leading lightweights--the Johnny Gants and Ray Lampkins of the world. A nice run as WBC champ, too. Throw in wins with Viruet, Peppermint, Guts Ishimatsu, Yamabe. A good career? You bet.

But! He was never the best in his weight class, never won a genuine championship, and loses any sentimental mojo by being an apparent scumbag as a person. It's not often I side with the Canastota Crew, but they got this one right.

[JazMerkin]

DeJesus was a very good fighter. Anyone who knows anything about this sport can readily witness his excellence jumping off the screen.

I think his exclusion from the Hall of Fame is correct, however. His actual accomplishments are more on par, in my mind, with a Terrence Alli or someone of that ilk. That could be overstating it a bit, but I don't think he's near any of the top 5 PR fighters.

The win over Duran looms large, perhaps more than any non-title win over a champ in history. I don't see any other fighter's career buoyed by such a win to the level DeJesus enjoys. He beat several leading lightweights--the Johnny Gants and Ray Lampkins of the world. A nice run as WBC champ, too. Throw in wins with Viruet, Peppermint, Guts Ishimatsu, Yamabe. A good career? You bet.

But! He was never the best in his weight class, never won a genuine championship, and loses any sentimental mojo by being an apparent scumbag as a person. It's not often I side with the Canastota Crew, but they got this one right.

Interesting take, I happen to disagree, as being competitive with Duran in the way he was & beating some credible contenders makes him deserving for me, although there are maybe a few other absentees who would get in ahead of him for me.