As a gesture of admiration to his predecessor, Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is inclined to tap the services of former two-time world champion Luisito Espinosa.
In an interview with the Bulletin/Tempo, international promoter Rex ‘Wakee’ Salud said that Pacquiao has agreed to take in the beleaguered 38-year-old Espinosa to his chock-full training team in preparation for his classic return bout with Mexican hero Erik Morales early next year.
“Pumayag si Manny na makasama niya si Louie, pero hindi ko lang alam kung sa sparring or corner lang. whichever, malaki din ang maitutulong ni Louie sa experience niya as former world champion,” revealed Salud, a confidante of Pacquiao.
Though a Pacquiao-Espinosa team-up will surely wax lyrical among ardent Filipino boxing fans, Salud believes that a sparring session between the two may turn out to be one scary scenario for Espinosa.
“Siguro isama na lang si Louie sa corner or sa pag-takbo. Alam mo naman si Manny maski sa sparring todo-buhos din mga suntok niyan,” added Salud who was with Pacquiao yesterday in Bacolod.
Espinosa, a revered world bantamweight and featherweight ruler years before Pacquiao’s rise to fame, has been in the doldrums since being dethroned as 126-lb king five years ago by Mexican Guty Espadas in Merida, Mexico.
Espinosa has been also glum about the fact that he still has to collect his 0,000 fight purse after a successful 6th round TKO title defense of his crown versus Carlos Rios of Argentina eight years ago. (DP)
