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Philippines, 18 Feb 2026 |
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ESPINAS BARES READINESS FOR WORLD CLASS FIGHTS By Rene Bonsubre, Jr. PhilBoxing.com Sun, 28 Feb 2016  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..  |
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