Court opens Espinosa case versus promoters

The Manila Regional Trial Cour t yesterday opened an eight-year-old case that former world boxing champion Luisito Espinosa, now crownless and penniless, has been pinning his hopes on to collect $130,000 from the promoters of his world title bout in Koronadal, South Cotabato in 1997.

In a 20-minute hearing, Judge Rosario Cruz of Branch 173 of the MRTC ordered Espinosa’s lawyer Dennis Manzanal to submit judicial affidavit of Espinosa’s father in 10 days to support their complaint that promoter Rodolfo Nazario, Joselito Mondejar and South Cotabato Governor Hilario de Pedro had not yet paid their client the remaining balance of $130,349.

Manzanal told The STAR they asked the court to just present the judicial affidavit of their first witness Deo Espinosa because he has already suffered three strokes that apart from paralyzing half of his body, had also impaired his memory.

However, Espinosa’s father would still have to take the witness stand for the cross-examination on May 31.

The case stemmed from the alleged failure of the respondents to honor the contract they sealed with the plaintiff.

On Dec. 6, 1997, Espinosa, staked his WBC featherweight crown against No. 1 contender Carlos Rios of Argentina in Koronadal, South Cotabato. Manzanal said his client was supposed to get a $150,000 fight purse and an additional $10,000 for training expenses.

However, Manzanal said the former champion received only an initial payment of $29,651 with Nazario allegedly promising to pay the balance of $130,349 after the fight. Espinosa won the bout but he reportedly never received the full amount.

"Espinosa may have already been based in the United States for the last five years, but he is still pursuing the case,"said his stepmother Alicia.