Philippines, 14 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


ESPINAS BARES READINESS FOR WORLD CLASS FIGHTS


PhilBoxing.com




Philippine boxing?s latest Cinderella Man, Jesse Espinas appeared like a bolt from the blue last February 26 with his upset TKO win over Paipharob Kokietgym in Thailand.

His name may not ring a bell for the casual fans. But this talented fighter from Oroquieta City is slowly closing in on his dream to be a world champion.

Espinas, who bears the moniker ?Little Giant? fights under the minimumweight division. He was first introduced to Sammy Gello-ani?s boxing training camp / gym in Baliangao,Misamis Occidental by his mentor, Bobby Mag-usara in 2012. Espinas brought with him only a promise to train very hard.

Promoter Sammy Gello-ani informed philboxing that he was very much impressed when he first laid eyes on Espinas.
?I was very much impressed by Espinas? boxing skills and power when I asked him to spar with one of my boxers in the training camp. Right after the sparring session, I told Espinas that he can attain his dream of becoming a world champion someday if he continues to be dedicated, focus, disciplined, determined and train very hard? said Gello-ani.

He turned pro in 2012 and compiled a record of 12-2,8KO?s before his stunning win against Kokietgym.

One of his losses was against Ranelle Ferreras by majority decision. Then last September 12, 2015, he lost his fight against Christian Araneta due to the hand injury that he sustained during one sparring session. That loss dislodged him from the world ratings of the four boxing organizations.Last January 12, 2016, after his GAB mandatory suspension due to his loss to Araneta, he bounced back with a very impressive win by KO against the promising Joey Canoy ( 10-1-1 ).

Gello-ani saw a golden opportunity for his boxer when the offer came to fight the world ranked and undefeated WBO Oriental jr. flyweight champion, Thai Paipharob Kokietgym with a record of 32 wins ? 25 KO?s and was known as the ?Knockout King? in Surin, Thailand, a 6 hour trip from Bangkok.

The Thai was ranked highly by three sanctioning bodies WBO # 2 ? WBA # 4 and IBF # 6. Kokietgym is also the current PABA light flyweight champion and former 2011 WBA interim minimumweight champion.

But Gello-ani was not worried, even when his boxer was moving up in weight. He told this writer in an e-mail message that ?I wanted to test his talent and skills with this kind of opportunity and let him prove that he can win the fight. And he did win. Espinas dropped the Thai champion once on the 2nd round and twice on the 8th round to win the fight.?

?The program I have for Espinas is working and it is only a matter of time that he will become a world champion. He is now back in our training camp in Mindanao.?

Gello-ani is known for steering the former WBO supeflyweight champion Marvin Sonsona to become a world champion in 13 fights. Similarly, another former world champion, Johnriel Casimero got it in 13 fights. Gello-ani stated that ?Jesse ?The Little Giant? Espinas with 15 fights can be a world champion if he will be given an opportunity to challenge the current world champions in his division.?

Gello-ani added, ?Espinas is a fighter who has the talent, heart, power and determination and very much ready to face the tough arena of professional boxing. At the age of 23, Espinas is very responsible and mature. Winning the WBO Oriental jr. flyweight belt is just the beginning.?

PHOTO- ESPINAS TRIUMPHANT IN THAILAND


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: CANELO - 167.5 LBS., CRAWFORD - 167.5 LBS.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • BELFAST: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Canoy cancels title fight due to child’s death
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Vietnam’s Pool Revolution: Hanoi Open Pool Championship
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
    , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • BELFAST PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING LEWIS CROCKER AND PADDY DONOVAN SAID AHEAD OF HISTORIC WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN
    , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA TO DEFEND UNDISPUTED CROWN AGAINST HIGHLY RANKED NEW FOE ALEXAS “IRON LADY” KUBICKI
    , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • Chino Sy Tancontian is Sports Hero of the Year 2025
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • Two (or Three) Lefts Make a Right: Francisco Guilledo to Luisito Espinosa
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Advances to 2025 World Boxing Championships Semifinals
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR COLLAZO HOSTS MEDIA WORKOUT
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Jerwin Ancajas Set for IBF Mandatory Eliminator Against Former World Champ Ryosuke Nishida; Winner Fights Naoya Inoue
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • “Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Local Favorite Bryce Mills Tops First Boxing Card At del Lago Resort & Casino
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Casimero comeback next month in Kyrgyzstan?
    By Nick Giongco, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Team USA Concludes Day Six of 2025 World Boxing Championships
    , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Andrade, Garras rule Milo marathon in Tagum
    , Wed, 10 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.