Reading about former bantamweight and featherweight champion Luisito Espinosa having a fight on February 18, 2005 in Stockton, CA, reminded me of this heart rending plea of poverty stricken boxers which moved a boxing matchmaker with international connections more than once to give in and “moved mountains” just to grant the pleader his life saving “one last fight”.
I had a hearty discussion with a man criticized in his own country for “feeding” retiring or semi-retired boxers to be “slaughtered” in foreign lands. To my question “why is this so?” he explained that he just gave in to the request after seeing and understanding its basis.
“These fighters risked their lives during their career making their managers rich while they get only a pittance for their risky part”, he explained. “When their fighting days are over and they become useless, they close their eyes to their difficulties. Then they approach me with their plea.”
Fighter A
After years of fighting, fighter A tills the rice land of another in Bukidnon, Philippines in order to survive. His income barely meets the family needs. His former manager didn’t want to see him. He approached the matchmaker whom he knew to be helpful and asks that he be arranged a fight abroad. The money that he earns will be enough to buy the rice land he tills. When he becomes the land owner, his income capacity will improve. He has not seen a gym for long time now, but he promised to get in shape for this one last fight. He got his wish. While he gave it his all, he got knocked out in less than two rounds. He came home happy even with the loss as he was able to buy the rice land he was tilling.
Fighter B
School will open in two months, but the two kids of this fighter haven’t been enrolled yet. They have no money for their tuition during this enrollment time and they have no other means to have it. The former manager is again unavailable. He approached the kind hearted matchmaker and even the fighter’s wife pleaded to give her husband one last fight, again, abroad, so the pay would be higher. He promised to go back to the gym and give his best during the fight. But having seen his best fighting days, he got clubbed by a younger fighter and surrendered in less than a round. Their kids got enrolled and they called to thank the matchmaker.
The matchmaker added that assisting to get a fighter’s “last fight” is not pleasant at all. He had to likewise plead for the promoters abroad to grant the fighter’s request. Further, he knew how great the risk the requesting fighter was facing in a fight he ill prepared for. But pity prevails and the fighter gets his last fight.
Espinosa has made his country proud in winning two world titles. He was a hero with Gerry Pe?alosa when Manny Pacquiao was still making a name in small fights and still unknown to the world.
Espinosa, who is now a long time resident of the US and might be getting his American citizenship, is still a Filipino to his Filipino fans. When he lost to Zahir Raheem in a comeback fight, not a few ached for him.
Then we read about Luisito offering his services as one of the Pac-Man’s sparring partners to help the latter prepare for his fights. I’ve not read anything whether or not Manny or Freddie Roach even gave the offer a thought. Filipino fight fans would not like to see the Manny banging an aging Luisito. And Manny might even hold his punches so as not to hurt him.
Luisito has seen his best days. He is better off in the US where opportunities are greater than his least fortunate fighter-mates in the Philippines. He doesn’t need to have another fight and add blemish to his record to be able to buy a rice land or send his kids to school.
“Luisito, what is this February 18 fight with Cristobal Cruz for?”
