In Donaire, history is repeating itself

By Al S. Mendoza

THE case of Nonito Donaire Jr. reminds me of Luisito Espinosa.

Do you remember that Espinosa’s moniker was “Lindol?”

He hit so strong the boxing ring would shake in its very foundations once the target is struck.

But I just said that to be in sync with the times, which is, that we are terribly undergoing an earthquake-stress following the magnitude 9 temblor that hit Japan just very recently, killing thousands and rendering thousands more missing following a tsunami.

Now to get to the point.

Like Donaire today, Espinosa in the past also had a wife who took over her husband’s boxing affairs.

I’m a bit sad to be telling you this because Louie and Maricherie are my godchildren in their wedding vows.

But it’s no secret that Espinosa’s career went from success to shambles after Maricherie intruded into Louie’s territory.

At the start, Maricherie was merely “making suggestions.”  Soon, she’d be telling Louie to do this, or not to do that.

It would soon draw the ire of Hermie Rivera, Louie’s manager.

Hermie, the eminent broadcaster whose wife is from Dagupan City, left Louie and the result was a quick slide in the boxer’s career.

Not long after the Rivera-Espinosa break-up, Louie and Maricherie also separated.

Louie took career-ending blows and wound up a busboy in America, with Maricherie wandering off to some place in America in the company, reportedly, of another man?

Worst, up to now, Louie had yet to collect his purse of nearly $150,000 for a won fight in 1998 in General Santos City against Carlos Rios of Argentina.  I know. I was there.

And now this, another Filipino world champ having a wife for a manager.  Pseudo?

Whatever, it’s taking that ugly form now – Rachel handling Nonito’s business affairs.

First, Nonito dumps his father as manager-trainer.  She will deny it, but Rachel had a hand in that.

Second, Nonito dumps Bob Arum as his promoter.  She will deny it, but Rachel again had a hand in that.

The first one was bad enough as Nonito’s family, including his Mom, took a bad beating resulting in Nonito getting alienated from the clan.

Well, they had patched up things, we were told.  Let’s hope it’s true.

But now this, the split from Bob Arum.

What a shame.

Bob Arum is Mt. Everest of boxing and you dump him for an anthill that is the GBP of Oscar De La Hoya?

What has become of Nonito, a robot, if not a total wreck, hen-pecked hubby?

Atop the ring, his fists do the talking.

Off the ring, his wife does the talking.

Listen to Bob Arum on Rachel:  “When that green-eyed monster comes out of the bottle, it always means trouble.”

But this one takes the cake:  “If Donaire doesn’t come back to us, the only fight he’ll ever be having is against his wife Rachel.”

He’ll be knocked out even before the first bell rings.

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