DESPITE initial apprehensions, Manny Pacquiao yesterday reconsidered and welcomed the offer for him to spar with former world champion Luisito Espinosa in preparation for the monumental rematch against Mexico’s Erik Morales in January.
“Makakatulong din siya (He could be of help),” Pacquiao told international promoter-manager Rex “Wakee” Salud in Bacolod City where the two were guests yesterday.
Salud had said he was worried Espinosa, who has been disallowed to fight by the California State Boxing Commission following dismal losses, could not stand up to the expected beating during sparring with Pacquiao.
But when pressed by this reporter to get a firm reply from Pacquiao, Salud got an affirmative answer.
This reporter heard Pacquiao finally agreeing to Espinosa as a sparmate over Salud’s cellphone.
Pacquiao, who said he was willing to give Espinosa financial help, did not clarify how the proposed sparring could be carried out considering their discrepancy in age and power.
Pacquiao had himself been quoted as saying Espinosa could get unduly hurt during sparring.
With Pacquiao suddenly giving the nod to the over-the-hill, 38-year-old Espinosa, the development comes as another coup for boxing expert Hermie Rivera.
Rivera, who discovered and developed Espinosa into a world champ, has been batting for Espinosa to be part of Pacquiao’s stable of sparmates.
Rivera sent the following text message prior to Pacquiao’s decision yesterday: “It would do well for Manny to look back at the performance of his previous sparmates when he took on the likes of Marquez and Morales, whereby his chosen ones acted like willing turds — thus letting Pacquiao suffer a rare loss and an undeserved draw.”
Told that majority in local boxing circles had also feared for Espinosa after he was offered as a sparmate for the hard-hitting Pacquiao, Rivera made this assurance: “I would be the last to allow Luisito to spar with the prodigious Pacman if Lindol [Espinosa] can’t hack it.”
Rivera stressed that sparring is an entirely different art from actual ring combat. He added that Espinosa is basically of the same height as Morales and could also lend Pacquiao additional inputs.
Rivera has criticized this reporter for expressing similar fears voiced by other concerned parties that Espinosa may no longer be of full value to Team Pacquiao as a sparmate.
There are plans for Espinosa, nicknamed Lindol (Earthquake) for his sensational first-round world bantamweight title win in Bangkok in 1989, to come home and grace the “Fight for Love” card for his benefit at the San Andres Civic and Sports Arena on October 29.
