LAKVA SIM WAS LOOKING TO “HURT” KING LOUIE!
Last Sunday on “Ring Talk Radio,” promoter Dan Goossen told host Pedro Fernandez that former two-time WBA (super feather/lightweight) champion Lakva Sim was on the verge of a rematch with undefeated WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz. It was just 13 months ago, July of 2004 and Lakva had just gone 12 hard rounds with the 24-year old Diaz. Although he lost unanimously, Lakva forced the “Baby Bull” to use his young legs and box the Mongolian minister of mayhem.
PRIME LIGHTWEIGHT (135 LBS) & OLD BANTAM (118 )
With no opponent as of Monday, Goossen-Tutor matchmaker Tom Brown made a phone call, and representatives of ex-bantamweight and featherweight champion Luisito Espinosa agreed to meet the Goossen promoted Sim at the eleventh hour. Mr. Sim had been training for this date for a long time, which showed when he weighed 132.5 lbs., or well below the limit of 135. Team Sim was hoping that a victory would move him on to another world title shot.
ESPINOSA IN LAST MINUTE OPPONENT (CHUMP) ROLE!
Having supposedly spent weeks in serious training, the now 38-year old Espinosa agreed to fight Sim on Fox Sports’ “Best Damn Night of Olympians,” headlined by 2004 Olympic champion Andre Ward. There could’ve been a time in the past when both Espinosa and Sim could have headlined a show. However, this fight was at first scheduled for eight, and then dropped to six rounds. This was clear evidence of the poor quality of opposition for Sim. Normally a battle between two former world champions, or any fight involving a #2 rated contender, would entail a ten or twelve round fight.
FAMILY HAD NO IDEA “KING LOUIE” WAS EVEN FIGHTING!
Rey Danseco, an experienced editor and writer for various Philippine newspapers told me that Espinosa’s father and first trainer Dio Espinosa, who is recovering from a stroke, was shocked to hear the news that his 38 year old son would even consider a return to the ring and at a career high 138 lbs. Having turned pro at 109 lbs., Luisito’s weight gain from flyweight to jr. welterweight should be yet another yellow light for Team Espinosa.
BUSINESS OF THIS FIGHT (FOR SIM)
There are always two aspects of a prizefight. One is the sport, and the other is the business side. Looking at this fight from an analytical point of view, this was an easy (see slam dunk) opportunity for a world-ranked contender to pad his record with a known name. A Filipino icon, Luisito once drew over 300,000 countrymen in a title defense at Manila Bay, and was dubbed by the WBC back in 2000 as the second best Filipino fighter; second, of course, to the great “Flash” Elorde. The more than expected Sim win over Luisito would look good on the Mongolian’s resume.
HAVING MORE THAN MIXED FEELINGS!
After learning about Espinosa?€™s fight against Sim, my immediate reaction was another small payday. However, Pedro Fernandez, who was ringside for Sim?€™s loss to Diaz, he explained that Sim was a monster that could easily inflict serious damage on Espinosa. Fernandez expressed his opinion in a column, and asked that the California State Athletic Commission step in. Fernandez’ feelings began to seriously worry “The Pinoy,” and I immediately contacted a source close to the Espinosa camp.
ROOKIE MANAGER IS VETERAN S.F. POLICEMAN
I requested to speak to Espinosa’s then unidentified manager (later identified as Joe Robles), hoping that he could convince me that Espinosa is capable of being competitive against Sim. The source considered my request a threat, and informed me that litigation would take place if this bout did not take place. Unwilling to identify himself, I became impressed by his passion for Espinosa and how confident he was in Louie. On the other hand, he simply discredited my personal experience with Espinosa (of which my mother, Boots Aniel, was his manager from 1999 to 2001) and of that as a columnist.
A LESSON LEARNED FOR “THE PINOY”
Although I truly believed, as probably did 99% of Espinosa’s fans that Espinosa was nothing more than a sacrificial lamb for Lakva Sim, I allowed this guy to somewhat intimidate me. It’s a good thing Pedro Fernandez didn’t back down in a second column, as he again voiced his reasonable concerns. The California Commission stepped in and ordered Espinosa to take an MRI at the last minute. Upon arrival at the fight venue Thursday, I was informed that the Espinosa fight was indeed scratched, due to a failure by Luisito to take the mandated brain examination.
NAÏVE FOLKS LOOKING FOR SCAPEGOAT!
Neither Lakva Sim nor Luisito Espinosa received their purse for the bout, and Espinosa’s team feel Fernandez as the sole reason for the fight being canceled. They will likely look to my email, advising them of Pedro’s feelings, as a malice attempt to deny Espinosa’s ill advised ring return. Listen, no one is trying to deny Espinosa a right to make a living. People, Luisito has been knocked out in four of his last six fights, including the last two!
THIS STUFF MAKES “RING TALK” DIFFERENT!
It is the job of the qualified scribe to express an opinion for the boxing world to read. It’s not Pedro who runs boxing in California, as the Commission is headed by Armando Garcia. Fernandez believed that in this specific fight, and against a rated natural lightweight, Espinosa was in serious danger. Clearly, his words were not a personal attack on Espinosa.
COMMISSION ORDERS “BRAIN” TEST FOR LOUIE!
And if Pedro was so off, and didn’t know what he was talking about, then why was the fight scrapped? At the end of the day, Espinosa’s team should thank www.RingTalk.com for saving their fighter from getting KO’d, or worse! Now, Espinosa’s team can reevaluate their boxer and if they are serious about a comeback, then take the proper steps by getting him easy fights in order to ascertain what, if anything Louie has left!
OLYMPIC KING WARD SHINES ON FOX SPORTS NET!
2004 Olympic Gold Medal winner Andre Ward continues to impress as he dominated an outclassed Christopher Holt Thursday night in San Jose with a KO win. Ward seems to have what we call “IT!” Some don’t know what “IT” is, but Ward clearly possesses it. I’ve never seen a fighter who knows exactly what he’s doing every second of a round. The “S.O.G.” (Son of God), in my mind, processes the ultimate combination to reach the highest levels in boxing and life: brains with faith. Adding biblical verses to each signature, Ward proudly expresses his Christian faith, while understanding it takes more than God to win fights. I feel he doesn’t allow his faith to dictate how he performs in the ring; his hard work is what him a good boxer. Hopefully, he can continue his rise to the top of the middleweight division
QUICK JAB OR TWO…HEY BARRY BONDS…THANKS! Special greetings to San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds, this for shouting me out in one of his recent journal entries on his infamous personal website. Hopefully, he’ll take my advice and watch Manny Pacquiao fight in Los Angeles come September 10.
Jason Aniel
Contact the writer [email protected]
