REMEMBER Luisito Espinosa?
One of country?s two-division world champion is back in town after staying in the United States for 10 years.
?Masaya ako at nakabalik ako dito sa bansa natin. Nakakatuwa dahil nakita ko ulit yung mga tao na nakilala ko nung world champion pa ako,? said Espinosa in an interview.
Espinosa left the country in early 1998 after he was not paid for his successful world title defense against Carlos Rios last December 1997 in Koronadal, South Cotabato.
?Sana mabayaran na ako kasi pinaghirapan ko din naman yun. Ang hinihingi ko lang naman ay yung kung ano ang dapat para sa akin,?: said Espinosa.
Espinosa attended Tuesday night?s 8th Annual Flash Elorde Banquet of Champions awards night highlighted by the enshrinement of current boxing idol Manny Pacquiao as the event?s first ever hall of famer. He arrived unnoticed Monday morning from San Francisco the same time Pacquiao arrived in the country from Los Angeles.
?Wala ngang nakakilala sa kaniya nung dumating probably because all eyes were on Manny who arrived almost the same time as Louie,? said Liza Elorde wife of the late Elorde?s son Johnny who was instrumental in inviting Espinosa fly home.
Espinosa however said he felt the adoration of his countrymen when dozens of autograph seekers approached him during the awards night.
?Nagpapasalamat ako at may nakakakilala pa sa akin. Sa pakiramdam ko hindi pa din nasayang yung hirap ko para mabigyan ng karangalan ang bansa natin,? said Espinosa.
Espinosa plans to pursue his case currently pending at the sala of Judge Rosario Cruz of the Manila Regional Trial court Branch 173 involving his unpaid fight purse of $150,000.
Respodents of the case are fight promoter Rod Nazario, matchmaker Lito Mondejar and former South Cotabato governor Hilario de Pedro.
The agreement states that as promoter, Nazario “guarantees the purse of $150,000 and training expenses of $10,000 for Luisito Espinosa”.
It was signed by Nazario, Espinosa?s namanger Joe Koizumi and a certain Jose Pring, Jr. representing De Pedro.
Part of the documents presented by Espinosa?s lawyer Dennis Manzanal was a Letter of Guarantee signed by De Pedro and Nazario endorsed by then Games and Amusement Board Chairman Dominador Cepeda.
When the case was actively heard sometime in 2005, Nazario reiterated his argument that he merely accommodated Koizumi and De Pedro as both of them had no domestic license to promote the fight.
Espinosa, 41, won the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight crown in October 1989 by stopping legendary local legend Khaokor Galaxy in a single round in Thailand then annexed the World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight championship via 12-round decision win over Mexican Manuel Medina December of 1995.
Espinosa defended the WBC belt seven times in a span of nearly four years before losing the belt via controversial 12-round decision to another Mexican Cesar Soto in May 1999 in El Paso, Texas.
Now working as a stockman in Cosco, the green card-holder Espinosa ended his illustrious career with a record of 47-13 with 26 knockouts.
