Ex-world boxing champ Espinosa gets (delayed) justice

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

BOXING avid buffs know who former world boxing champ Luisito Espinosa is. Dagupeπos especially the late Dagupan City hizzoner Alipio Fernandez, Jr. and two late Dagupeño elite journalists Jun Velasco and Hermie Rivera were very familiar with Espinosa. (Boxing analyst Rivera was the once the manager of the boxer.)

The former World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight and World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight champion Espinosa had a stint in Dagupan for awhile in 1997 and in fact this writer met him twice, once at Star Plaza Hotel and at the Mayor’s Shed in Tondaligan Beach, Bonuan Gueset. That was during Espinosa’s intensive training in preparation for his June 17, 1997 WBC featherweight title rematch against Mexican Manuel Medina held at Luneta Park, Manila. Yes, we watched the fight on television and saw how the Tondo-born Espinosa hammered out a well-deserved unanimous decision in front of his countrymen with morale boosting cheers from the partisan crowd especially from his Tondo mates throughout and after the verdict was announced.

His financial problems started after his title clash with Argentine Carlos Rios whom he clearly outpointed staged at the South Cotabato stadium in Koronadal City on December 6, 1997. The $150,000 guaranteed purse and training expenses of $10,000 due him under the signed contract was not paid despite Espinosa’s demands and pleas. Hewas only paid $26,000 plus. That prompted Espinosa to sue the promoters Rodolfo Nazario, former South Cotabato Gov. Hilario de Pedro and Joselito Mondejar. Nazario, was also the former manager of boxing icon now Senator Manny Pacquiao. Nazario died in September 2009 and was succeeded in the case by his heirs, his wife, the former Supreme Court Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, and their three children. The cases against De Pedro and Mondejar were both dismissed for they were not signatories of the contract.

Espinosa lost the case at the Regional Trial Court in August 2011 but appealed the case to the higher court in May 2015 and the Court of Appeals confirmed his monetary claim by ruling that the clause in the contract evidently bound Nazario as guarantor. Finally, after a long agonizing wait for 17 years, justice was granted to Espinosa by the Supreme Court. It  ordered the heirs of Nazario to pay the remaining sum of more than $130,000 plus a six-percent interest per annum calculated from May 1998 when Espinosa filed the case.

As I see it, he was dethroned by Cesar Soto in a return bout after his two successful title defenses against Mexican Juan Carlos Ramirez and American Kennedy McKinney because he was emotionally affected by the legal case. (Recall that Soto relinquished the title due to weight problem and moved to higher division. That left Espinosa and Mexican Gustavio “Guty” Espadas fighting for the vacant WBC feather crown. Unfortunately, Espinosa was outclassed and lost on points).

Espinosa, attempts to ascend to world ranking after his loss to Espadas failed and finally retired in 2005 after his ugly defeat to Mexican Cristobal Cruz losing by knockout. Espinosa toted a total of 47 wins, 13 loses with 26 knockouts. Last that I heard after his ‘tago ng tago’ in America, he finally acquired his ‘green card,’ accepting menial jobs to survive America’s life.

 Justice was delayed, but Espinosa was eventually vindicated and won justice for his cause.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: And Jesus Christ said,” For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. MATTHEW 24: 7-8

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