King Louie back in race

Luisito Espinosa isn’t giving up hope of someday capturing a third world boxing championship. He’s back in the gym, training hard, and waiting for a chance to redeem himself. His problem is lack of tough opposition because contenders are avoiding him like the plague.

Despite losing three of his last four fights, Espinosa is still considered dangerous in the ring. And a fighter looking for a shot at the world title isn’t likely to risk his future against him.

Former World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight champion John Michael Johnson was scheduled to face Espinosa on April 14 in Temecula but has backed out. It would’ve been Espinosa’s first outing since losing to Augie Sanchez on a fourth round stoppage in Las Vegas in January last year. Johnson, the World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 10 contender, knocked out Sanchez with a single blow in 31 seconds of the first round in Indio last December and was a top choice as Espinosa’s comeback foe.

Another would-be opponent Lamont Pearson, the WBC No. 16 contender with a 17-0-1 record, also withdrew.

"Louie, while deep in training, is plagued by the usual pull-out of credible opponents," said fight expert Hermie Rivera, whose son Noel now manages Espinosa, in an e-mail to The STAR from his Newark, California, home the other day. "First there was Pearson who of late, realized his chances for a world title crack would be jeopardized if he tunes up against Louie. Same with Johnson who similarly evaded Louie – it would’ve been a great fight chiefly because of the Sanchez angle. But it wasn’t meant to be."

Rivera will accompany Espinosa to receive a citation as a former world champion during the Second Gabriel (Flash) Elorde Boxing Awards Nights at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati on March 25. Two other Filipino ex-world champions Erbito Salavarria and Eric Chavez will be honored.

The Elorde family offered Espinosa two round-trip tickets to fly here from the US. Rivera said if plans don’t miscarry, they will plane in on March 24.

"Noel is of the view that this trip will afford us the opportunity of having the kid fight in Manila, perhaps for the WBC International superfeatherweight title, maybe in late April, possibly against a Korean, Japanese or Thai," noted Rivera.

Espinosa, 34, has lived in Daly City since 1998. He left Manila in exasperation after failing to be paid the $130,000 balance of his purse for halting Carlos Rios to retain his WBC featherweight crown in Koronadal in December 1997. Espinosa has appealed to President Arroyo for assistance in collecting the unpaid balance from former South Cotabato Gov. Larry DePedro whose signature appears on a promissory note covering the amount.

According to San Francisco Chronicle writer Cicero Estrella, the source of inspiration in Espinosa’s comeback is his family. Espinosa said he’s not fighting for the money – he has investments in the Philippines, his wife Mariecherie earns a salary in a Redwood City computer company, and he picks up extra money working on weekends at Solita’s, a popular Filipino restaurant near Daly City.

Estrella quoted Espinosa’s new trainer Danovis Pooler as saying, "He is still incredibly skilled – he is extremely fast, packs a lot of power, and keeps himself really fit." For his part, Espinosa – tapping his chest with a closed fist – told Estrella, "I still have something left."

Every morning at 5 a.m., Espinosa gets up to jog about five miles around a park lake near the one-bedroom apartment he shares with his wife and their two children, John Louie, 10, and Janica, 2, in Pacifica. Then he drives Mariecherie to work and John Louie to school. Back at home, Espinosa attends to Janica, cleans the house, and does the laundry before reporting to the gym.

Rivera was Espinosa’s first manager. After they split up, Espinosa fought under five different managers. He’s gone back full circle to Rivera who advises his son on affairs of the sweet science.