| |
|
REMEMBERING LUISITO ESPINOSA'S SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE OF WBC FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST JUAN CARLOS RAMIREZ OF MEXICO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Tue, 16 Aug 2016

The World Boxing Council remembers the successful defense of featherweight champion Luisito "Lindol" Espinosa in a clash with Mexico's Juan Carlos Ramirez at the County Coliseum in El Paso, Texas on August 17, 1998.
Espinosa won by an 11th round TKO with the fight ending at 2:22 of the penultimate round when referee Laurence Cole stopped the action due to a nasty gash suffered by Espinosa following an accidental clash of heads.
Well known boxing writer Michael Katz of the New York Daily News reported that Ramirez who was from Anapra, the poor shantytown of Juarez to which Ramirez had promised a sewage system and maybe some running water if he won the title from Espinosa but that the water last night was thrown by angry supporters of 'El Ranchero' who lost an eleven round decision to old champion Luisito Espinosa of the Philippines.
The bout had to be stopped because of a nasty cut over Luisito's right eye.
Under WBC rules the scoring was completed for the 11th round and while Ramirez was ahead on the card of Gary Ritter 106-104, Espinosa was ahead on the scorecards of David Harris 106-104 and Jerry McKenzie 105-104. Katz said the Daily News had it even at 105-105 but said Ramirez was dominating the last two rounds.
Ramirez who was only 20 years old with a record 14-0 seemed overmatched against the 31 year old Espinosa who was a two-time world champion in his 50th pro bout but by the 6th round Ramirez was landing solid left hooks and Espinosa was looking at him as if to say, "who is this guy with 14 fights?"
The Filipino world champion however was landing with enough rights to form a mouse beneath the left eye of Ramirez who also suffered a nasty cut by his left eye.
Espinosa ended his career with a record of 47-13 with 26 knockouts.
Luisito Espinosa (R) of the Philippines defended his WBC featherweight title against Juan Carlos Ramirez of Mexico on Aug. 17, 1998 in El Paso, Texas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Rapista wins WBC Far East Silver super flyweight title By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade-Arca faces tough competition in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026 By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026“The Nightmare” Back in Action: Oguni vs Tapales April 3 in Japan By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN" , Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 13 Feb 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts , Fri, 13 Feb 2026IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS , Fri, 13 Feb 20263 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas , Fri, 13 Feb 2026Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open , Thu, 12 Feb 2026Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA , Thu, 12 Feb 2026Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs , Thu, 12 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now , Wed, 11 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced , Wed, 11 Feb 2026IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV , Wed, 11 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 9 FEBRUARY 2026: Figueroa Stops Ball in 12; Medina Outpoints Curiel; Asanau, Unal Win in Montreal By Eric Armit, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|