NEWSFEATURE
Ex-boxing champ Espinosa is a Dagupeño

By Gabriel L. Cardinoza

DAGUPAN CITY – Did you know that two-time world boxing champion Luisito Espinosa is a Dagupeño?

Well, not many people know it, but the former World Boxing Council featherweight champion became an “honorary son” of this city on July 23, 1996 through a Sangguniang Panlungsod resolution.

And for good reason: Espinosa then was a frequent visitor to this city and residents here liked him, treating him as if he was their own relative.

“He was a source of pride of the whole city,” said former City Councilor Rudy Fernandez, who met Espinosa during his term.

No one remembers now the year Espinosa last visited this city.

But while here, Fernandez said, Espinosa served as role model for aspiring young fighters and contributed largely to the speedy development of professional as well as amateur boxing here.

“Luisito was an inspiration to our young boxers then. He was idolized. In fact, the city government made amateur boxing then a priority project in its sports development program,” Fernandez said.

Former City Mayor (now Immigration Commissioner) Alipio Fernandez Jr. recalled that Espinosa easily blended with the residents here, “earning him high acceptance, due chiefly to his friendly ways.”

“He was natural. He would not hesitate to belt a mean song when prodded and he loved spinning funny yarns about his boxing experience,” Commissioner Fernandez said.

It was the commissioner who hosted Espinosa and his wife, Mariecherrie, when they eloped to Dagupan.

Espinosa’s mentor, Hermie Rivera, this city’s son-in-law (his wife is a Dagupeña), recalled that the former world boxing champion also did extensive running at the famed blue beach of Bonuan while training for a big fight.

“Luisito was gaga over grilled bangus and other delicacies, such as malaga, crabs, bagoong, bocayo, Calasiao puto, etc.,” Rivera said.

In between his workouts, Espinosa also accepted invitations as guest in various barangay fiesta celebrations and civic clubs meetings, where he was warmly received.

But those were the happy moments.

Espinosa, former World Boxing Council featherweight champion, who now lives in the United States of America, is in dire straits and has been forced to fight in the US to support his wife and three children.

In his last fight in Stockton, California two months ago, he was knocked out by Mexican fighter Cristobal Cruz. The fight earned Espinosa $3,000.

But what is more devastating perhaps, is the fact that a case he had filed against his promoters for the non-payment of his $150,000 purse in a fight he won some eight years back, has been lying dormant in a Regional Trial Court in Manila.

His father, Igmidio Espinosa, had written Chief Justice Hilario Davide to appeal for the resolution of the case, which is in the sala of Judge Rosario Cruz.

“Nawa’y inyo pong pagtuunan nang nararapat na pansin ang aming panawagan, bago man ako mamaalam sa mundong ito dahil sa aking karamdaman, para kay Luisito hindi lamang bilang aking anak, kungdi bilang isang bayani na tunay na maipagmamalaki ng ating bansa,” the older Espinosa wrote Davide.

Winner or loser, champion or not, Espinosa is still a hero to most Dagupeños. The next time he comes here, the red carpet will be rolled out for him and Dagupeños will still be here for him. (30)

Las Vegas,Nevada
Bob Arum heaped lavish praises on Eric Morales at the press conference of his ward’s ring date with Manny Pacquiao–likening him to the legendary Mexican idol Pancho Villa,

Reminded that there was a hall of famer from the Philippines with a similar moniker who reigned supreme as the world’s finest flyweight, Arum blurted that “it was the hero of the Mexican revolution I had in mind though Francisco Guilledo (Pancho’s real name) could be an apt comparison”,

Arum told everyone not to miss the fight guaranteeing total satisfaction by the fans “if only for the sheer volume of punches certain to top the blows thrown in their first encounter”.

Steve Wynn, owner of the swanky hotel which forked five million dollars on site fees alone to host the Morales/Pacquiao return go– calls the fluctuating odds (last posting was pick em) ‘unusual’ adding it could change anytime before the combatants square off before a sell-out throng Sunday Manila time.

Most of the large group of Filipinos who have started treking in to this mecca of boxing are expecting a quick win by Pacquiao but a retired MD, John Arville, a University of Santo Tomas alumnus, insists that the GenSan marvel must maintain at least “11 rounds of sustained fistic brilliance in order to topple the gutsy Tijuana native.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA—Bettors call it a “scalping” chance placing a bet on both sides of the ‘The Battle” which some gamblers say insures a profit assuming the odds posted at the time is even.

But you can throw this betting theory out of Steve Wynn’s fabulous hotel in Las Vegas with the re-assumption of the favored role by Manny Pacquiao who posted last night a definitive edge -betting wise- over his bitter rival Eric Morales.

Fifteen hundred dollars wagered on Manny Pacquiao can bring in one hundred ($100) while one hundred five crisp US notes placed on Erik Morales give a hundred dollar return.

But don’t go knocking on your neighbor’s doors betting your carabao lest you look foolish and dumb if you wind up making the wrong bet.(You can bring in the mascot with its apt comments)

Meanwhile, more Latinos are expressing preference for the man called
‘Pacman’ as he gears up for his showdown with the terrible Tijuana Mex.

It is probable that boxing aficionado (Mexican American) Raul Rodriguez, a Respiratory Therapist at Washington Township Hospital in Fremont Ca., just got swept up with Pac Mania he’s picking Pacquiao to beat Morales.

“I grew up in East Los Angeles watching the likes of Ruben Olivares, Salvador Sanchez and Julio Cesar Chavez. My dad used to to take me to the Forum to see a good scrap. It would have been fun seeing those guys with Manny. Manny is right up there with them in terms of fire, fury and brilliance.”

“I’m picking Manny Pacquiao to beat Erik Morales because of motivation. You cannot help admire a guy carrying the pride and honor of 80 million Filipinos.”
“In many ways, Manny emulates what Filipino-American workers are known for—-hardwork, talent and determination.”
“His blood and guts is to be admired especially after firing back at Morales despite being cut in the fifth round the last time they met.”
“Manny is the hungrier, faster and younger fighter of the two combatants. Speed kills and that’s what Manny should employ to beat the great Morales.”

“I’ve seen all of Manny Paquiao’s fights through PPV and DVD’s my buddy Emmanuel
Rivera gives me and I just like the guy. And Pacman gives great interviews.”
“A good example that he is his own man is that he doesn’t rely on translators to express himself on national television. He took initiative in learning English.”

Thanks Amigo. Ironically, nationalism sells in boxing. It is special to hear one Mexican aficionado root for a fistic treasure like Pacquiao.

“Manny Pacquiao comes once in a hundred years and I’m happy for the Filipino people.
“He has elevated not only boxing but his fellow Filipinos in terms of world wide recognition.” Rodriguez concluded.

But the Arville brothers, John Jr. and Raymond who are certified Pacquiao supporters — cautioned Manny to have at least 11 rounds of fistic brilliance in order to topple ‘Terrible Erik.

As it turned out, Pacman needed only ten ferociosly fought ones to fashion out the biggest win of his checkered career.

THE NIGHT Manny Pacquiao got beat by Eric Morales saw the emergence of a bunch of commentators ranging from ring-trainers, judges, referees and what have you to so-called expert analysts-throwing in their unsolicited outlandish views on one of the better-fought bouts at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Indeed, reaction to Pacquiao’s sorry loss has been quite revealing as seen by a substantial following of the fight game dubbed by the late Jimmy Cannon as the red light district of sports since its rotten beginnings.

The keenly fought ring war between two good jr. lightweights has brought to the fore the inseperable divide between the new breed of fans and those belonging to the old school. And the distinguishing attribute is not much on age but of attitude.

Yes, a great many-so-called fight authorities (Teddy Benigno certainly not included) keeps dwelling on the ‘what ifs’ as the culprit, conveniently ignoring the superb performance of the winner Morales who came out masterfully disrupting Pacquiao’s destructive rhythm–a mainstay of his varied arsenal that usually accompanies his whirlwind devil-may-care style.

I am uncertain if it was a case of incompetence or something more sinister but there is no doubting that these “Misters-know-it-all” simply cannot distinguish a right cross from the Red Cross to borrow a line from the late lamentable boxing impressario Pol Tiglao.

Even the inimitable Smokin’ Joe Cantada would be turning full bore in his grave knowing that there are those who are still around in the fight game imposing their skewed thinking on how a fight should be chronicled. He will, I’m sure, liken this group to out-of-sync wives who never seem to belong in this kind of a situation but still would be trying hard to wiggle out of it, thus earning an admiration laced heavily with utter contempt and downright derision.

Why, their sheer naivete’–nay lack of necessary knowledge of the sport–really could drive to the nearest bar even the most reformed AA alumnus.

So kind sirs let’s move on and leave behind the the “ifs and what might have beens’ and instead await the second coming of Manny Pacquiao–one of the heaviest hitters arguably in the super-featherweight division.

By the way, the expected return to active ring duty of the marvel from GenSan might take place soon.

The latest word from Pacquiao who leaves for a Los Angeles meeting with his lawyers on the cases he filed to recover missing ring earnings is a July non-title tenner.

A most welcomed development as prayed for by his ardent fans that remain hopeful that their idol will ressurect his stalled fistic activity sans the leeches (domestic and foreign) out to do him in. Meanwhile keep punchin’
——————
Hermie Rivera is a free lance broadcaster/journalist and former boxing manager.

SIX MONTHS INTO EARLY RETIREMENT, I am back in California state service as a “retarded” annuitant or retired “irritant,” take your pick–to work on a project for Arnold’s army.

This gig through June is with Mr. Schwarzenneger’s energy advisers. My Job is to help make his energy policies crystal clear to the electorate, I mean the people. After a bruising first term, Conan the Republican has announced he’ll run again for governor of the Golden State.

Mother nature has been fickle here for late. The calendar says winter, but the weather’s been spring-like, confusing the flowers to bloom ahead of time.

Anyway, kababayans hungry for news from home come up to me in parks, at the bus stop, in restaurants, etc. The hottest item on their plate is, you’ll never guess it–Manny Pacquiao and his expanding posse of admirers.

The one member of Manny’s planet who seems to cause all the curiosity is someone named Joe Ramos.

Mr. Ramos does not cook Manny’s meals, clean his plate, drive his car or make his bed when the Pacman arrives in Los Angeles.

According to news reports and column items, he is supposed to be the Filipino champion’s interpreter. As Pacquiao’s purse has expanded of late, so ha Joe’s clout in Manny’s camp.

On payday after his triumph over Erik Morales in their encore fight, Pacquiao rewarded Joe with a kingly sum of $50,000.

Such a windfall makes Joe one of, if not the highest paid interpreters on the planet.

The American Interpreters Association estimates there are 12,000 to 15,000 interpreters and translators in the United States. Many of them earn $30,000 to $60,000 annually–making Joe’s one-time paycheck something to shoot for in their lifetime.

But the sporting world knows that Manny has been freelancing, been doing his own interpreting. He has taken excessive lilberties with the King’s language of late.

Meantime, where has Joe been, sleeping on post, or doing other chores?

I can almost hear, an editor friend should he get the chance to confront Mr. Ramos.

The friend’s query would be short and sweet: “Joe,ano ba talaga ang agimat mo?” (Joe, what sort of talisman have you got?)

Well we would rather leave the Ramos followup to other interested parties, gossips columnists included.

Sports Note: Is it really necessary to impose the WBC international superfeatherweight title on a bankable fighter like Pacquiao? Is he aware that each time he comes out to box sporting that belt, the WBC deducts a substantive sum as sanction fee? A friend in the know says this is one of the greatest perfidies since the sale of the Brooklyn Bridge more than once by con artists in various eras.

EIGHT GOLD MEDALS DID THE TRICK when the philippines won the overall boxing title in the just concluded 23rd Southeast Asian Games.

Such a feat reminds us of two-time world champion Luisito Espinosa who has brought so much boxing glory to our shores.

Unfortunately Luisito’s story is increasingly becoming bizarre and far from complete. The latest chapter includes training to fight a ghost.

That the former champion’s topsy-turvy life has taken a tilt for the occult is an understatement.

Luisito, now 38, was TKO’d by a sympathetic athletic commission in California recently. Done in by a string of savage losses to upstarts, he’s been disallowed to fight for now in the Golden State.

Enter two friends, late bloomers to Luisito’s boxing heritage but are now addicted to it.

Joe Robles, a cop, and Frank Osias, an auto mechanic, now form Espinosa’s new management team.

Bucking naysayers, they plan to rebuild Luisito’s name–finding the time, money and effort to keep Espinosa sweating it out at the gym.

Even if the training is for a phantom bout this time.

Such is the life in California today for a world champion who twice scaled the apex of his sport. He held the World Boxing Association bantamweight title in 1989-91 and the World Boxing Council’s featherweight belt in 1995-1998.

Luisito lives with the Osias household in Fairfield, California. Fall is in the air in America, a bleary season indeed, we imagine for Espinosa.

The fighter should have retired by now due to advanced age and diminished skills. But for someone who earns a living as a fighter, he continues to face the horror that can occur within the ropes.

Life’s attractions beyond the ring could have been there for Espinosa if his civil action to claim an unpaid champion’s purse of $150,000 from eight years ago had been settled.

Luisito plans to come home for good, invest in a gym, show young boys how to box. And perhaps re-fight past matches of his glory years.

That is, if and when he gets the money due him.

But three years later, the case remains unresolved and had put on the elements of a John Grisham legal drama.

The case was last penciled in for a hearing by a Manila court early this year. For mysterious reasons, that hearing never occured and, needless to say, remains in legal limbo. It could someday end up in the Guinness Book of World Records, certainly not a feather in the cap of our judicial system.

“I am about ready to throw in the towel,” admits broadcaster Hermie Rivera, who filed the case for Luisito. Rivera took over Joe Koizumi as Luisito’s manager after he earned the purse for defending his world feather crown in Koronadal in 1997.

Increasing words of despair from Rivera must be music to the ears of ex-governor Larry de Pedro, boxing manager Rod Nazario and matchmaker Lito Mondejar. These inhabitants of the red light district of the sport have selfishly stood their ground.

Paying is farthest from their minds.

But knowing Rivera, he won’t call it a night that easy. He will go on seeking the abolition of the Games and Amusement Board for acts inimical to the sport. “It was this agency which allowed this travesty to happen by ordering Louie to fight despite not being paid in full as required,” says Rivera.

He will also work for the adoption of a local Ali Boxing Law to look after the interest of fighters taken advantage by unscrupulous promoters, managers and the like.

More power to people helping Luisito get what is rightly his.

And to people grappling with their conscience about the boxer’s current plight, two queries:

What have you done to a man whose life is more than boxing–it’s about being an amabassador of the Philippine Culture?

What have you done to a true hero from the slums of Tondo who succeeded to bring down the giants of his game and give us immense pride as a people?

Given the usual exploits of the combatants, the July 2 clash at the Araneta Coliseum between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar Larios could turn out to be one ‘hell of a fight’.

After a dearth of quality boxing events, the Big Dome roars back to life by staging Pacquiao’s first outing since destroying Erik Morales — this time against Larios–a former world champ who’s coming here to ‘win and not to lose’, according to his chief adviser Eric Gomez.

It took the coliseum’s top honcho Nene Araneta awhile to re-discover the lure of big-time boxing my dear Paisanos.

In turn, Nene’s move brought back the game to a venue which had played a vital part in the country’s storied boxing history.

A huge turnout is expected then when Manny enters the Big Dome ring where once the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Flash Elorde, Luisito Espinosa and countless other assets of the Sweet Science saw action.

For a while, the staging of this blockbuster hung in the balance,
threatened by political mischief and the spectre of a coup at the
height of negotiations amongst the principals.

Luckily it wound up well with ABS-CBN- the country’s largest
broadcast network picking up the pieces after the U.S. based server HBO, backed out.

Even with the sterling credentials of Manny who lays claim to the best record going into this super-featherweight tussle– the buzz going the rounds is whether the gutsy Mex can withstand the bombardment the GenSan marvel will unleash come fight night.

But boxing followers with an insatiable appetite for non-stop
action will not hesitate to pull out their wallets for the much awaited event.

Just who is this Larios anyway?

He’s a former World Boxing Council superbantamweight champion from Mexico managed by the golden boy himself, Oscar de la Hoya.

No less than De La Hoya’s right hand man Eric Gomez is adamant that Pacman’s decision to face their ward was’nt a smart move at all.

Fact is, HBO, the pay-per-view giant, was most insistent in having Larios tangle with Pacquiao to guarantee a competitive match-up.

In addition to giving it all against the hardest hitting super
featherweight on the planet, the resolute Mexican is hoping to perform at least as well as he did in his successful title defenses when he reigned supreme in his division.

Meanwhile, our man, the GenSan punching machine is coming off from the most exciting victory of his career: when he beat the once redoutable El Terrible to submission in 10 rounds at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas last January.

What we will see when Pacquiao and Larios collide would be their
own ‘not so contrasting’ styles — full of carefully executed and
energized hits.

Both will be right in their alley in front of each other with no
backward movement until the big blows start hitting their targets.

If the encounter in terms of ferocious leather-exchanges turns out anything like Pacquiao/Morales II, expect one ‘helluva’ fight to remember.

Adios Senor Larios.

Can our fight fans get that lucky?

The last time I filled a news space, I told everyone who cared how good Manny Pacman Pacquiao was despite his loss to Erik Morales.

Then quick as a jungle cat, the GenSan marvel went on to knockout journeyman Hector Velasquez in an aftermath of his bitter loss to the man they call El Terrible who he faces in a rematch on January 21 in Las Vegas.

The persistent query I’ve been getting is whether the South Cotabato sensation has what it takes to beat the smart-punching Tijuana native. In a meeting at Vegas’ MGM Grand, these macho super-featherweights served a delectable slugfest that compellied promoter Bob Arum to bring them back for an encore.

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LOS ANGELES, California — Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales took center stage at the MGM grand for the first time last March, displaying their status as two of the world’s most powerful super featherweights to millions of fans.

On January 21, the rivals reprise their bloody encounter in “The Battle” at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas with Pacquiao favored by the oddsmakers to prevail this time over Morales, the Mexican they call El Terrible.

The “Pacman” starts on Monday the final phase of his rigorous sparring at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

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No shot had yet been fired, but when Hermie Rivera faced the wrong end of an assault rifle on the Palace corridor he thought he would be the first casualty of 1986 People Power revolution.

Rivera’s confrontation with the Galil-wielding son of President Ferdinand Marcos followed his father’s decision to go on national television to reassure the world he would not attack the rebels.

A trusted press officer with full access to the inner Palace sanctum, Rivera had arranged for Marcos’ television address hours after Washington had warned of dire consequences if the President mounted an offensive.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr., nicknamed Bongbong, had opposed his father’s decision taken on the second day of the breakaway by rebellious Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Gen. Fidel Ramos, the Armed Forces deputy chief of staff.

 A mainstay of the popular late 60s, early 70s dzHP news team, Rivera said he had been called to the Palace at around 6 p.m. on that lazy Sunday – Feb. 23, 1986 — and had taken with him dispatches from Washington to brief the President.

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