Sporting Chance

President Estrada has promised a P1-Million bonus for Luisito Espinosa if he beats Guty Espadas for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title in Merida, Mexico, on April 14.

Espinosa's wife Mariecherie told The STAR yesterday the Chief Executive offered the reward during an audience at Malacañang last Friday.

"Malungkot si Presidente dahil hindi lalaban si Louie dito," said Mariecherie. But the President encouraged Espinosa to bring home the crown, no matter the odds, and said a P1-Million prize will be waiting.

Mariecherie said Espinosa's trainer Robert Aguallo, a Mexican based in San Francisco, will arrive this Friday with a 5-9 sparmate who resembles and fights like the elongated Espadas. The sparmate, a certain Humberto, is a world-rated junior featherweight from Mexico.

The Espinosa entourage will leave Manila on April 5 and head straight for Merida. Espinosa's manager Erlinda (Boots) Aniel, a real estate broker who lives in Daly City near San Francisco, will rendezvous with the Espinosa party on April 11.

Mariecherie said she hopes Games and Amusement Board (GAB) Chairman Dominador Cepeda will make it to Merida. "Malapit si Chairman kay (WBC President Jose) Sulaiman," she noted. "Sabi ni Chairman, baka magpadala na lang siya ng representative. But hinihiling namin na siya ang pumunta -- kaya niyang bigyan ng proteksyon si Louie at member siya ng WBC Board of Governors bilang Vice President."

Aguallo, 32, began training Espinosa last year. He was hired after two interviews.

During the National Basketball Association All-Star Weekend in Oakland last month, I spoke to Aniel and Aguallo.

"At first, we didn't know if we could trust Robert because he's Mexican," related Aniel.

There was a two-month waiting period between the two interviews then Aguallo was called for a one-week tryout with Espinosa. In his second day on the job, Aguallo was hired. Aguallo, however, didn't sign a contract -- that way, he said, there are no binding ties. Under a verbal agreement, he shares 10 percent of Espinosa's purses.

"If Louie thinks I can help, then I'll stay," said Aguallo who was born in Durango, Mexico, and moved to the US with his parents when he was nine. "If not, he's free to let me go. I'm confident in myself, in what I can do. My only boss is Louie. If I don't bring anything positive on the table, he'll know. Louie's his own man -- he's very intelligent, he knows what he wants. He listens to advice then decides what to do -- that's how he is. In the gym, I suggest a few things -- we experiment. If things work out, then fine, if not, we try something else. If he's not comfortable with what I suggest, I don't take offense -- I'm just happy he hears me out."

Aguallo said he's exclusive to Espinosa. He trains no other fighter although he works in the corner of several prospects who are friends -- like undefeated Juan Arias, Freddie Neal and Joaquin Guajardo.

"I'm loyal to Louie," continued Aguallo. "He comes first. I'll be with him until he retires or until he tells me to go. I've been training fighters for over 10 years. I've worked with world champions like Henry Martinez, Tom (Boom Boom) Johnson and Hector Lizarraga. I know the politics in boxing and it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. I would've walked away from boxing if not for Louie. Boxing is a terrible business. I don't need it. I've got my own business which I inherited from my family four years ago. But I'm training Louie because I believe he deserves to be world champion. It hurts me that Louie is not respected."

Aguallo said Espinosa has at least three more years of fighting left at the top.

"Louie's been mistreated," he added. "I've got a job to do. He didn't hire me to fall in love with him. But I respect him as a person -- he's the only fighter I've trained whom I sent a Christmas card to. I'm a perfectionist. I work hard in the gym and I expect Louie to work just as hard if not harder. My job is to protect him. If I see you hurting him in any way, I'll get in your face."

Aguallo said he'll need four weeks to work with Espinosa to get him ready for Espadas.

Aguallo is the general manager of Ruben's Building Maintenance, a family business that was started by his father 30 years ago. He and wife Daisy, an El Salvador native, are blessed with two children Cristina, 12, and Diana, 10. The trainers whom he most admires are Emanuel Steward, Angelo Dundee and Eddie Futch. His favorite fighters are WBC superfeatherweight champion Floyd Mayweather, the late Salvador Sanchez, Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Espinosa, of course, is also an Aguallo favorite. "Louie's not a typical Asian fighter," he said. "His style is refined -- he's got finesse yet he's aggressive. He's a boxer and counterpuncher. He's deadly when his opponent is hurt."

Aguallo's burning ambition is to bring Espinosa back on the throne. That means it's do or die in Merida.