Trend shows Louie win over Mexican rival

MERIDA - Luisito Espinosa has never lost in a fight where Richard Steele, Chuck Hassett and Marty Denkin were involved.

Today, the three ring officials will once again work an Espinosa bout - a bout he can't afford to lose. Espinosa battles hometowner Guty Espadas, Jr. for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight crown here.

Steele, 56, is the referee. Hassett, 63, Denkin, 66, and John Keane, 48, of Northants, England, are the judges. Rex Walter of Colorado is the WBC supervisor.

Steele has worked over 150 world title fights since making his debut in the Carlos Zarate-Paul Ferreri match in California in 1976. He was the referee when Espinosa outpointed Thanomsak Sithbaobey to retain his World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight crown in Bangkok in 1990.

Hassett was a judge when Espinosa decisioned Manuel Medina in Tokyo in 1995, halted Alejandro Gonzalez in Guadalajara in 1996, and stopped Nobutoshi Hiranaka in Fukuoka also in 1996.

Denkin was the third man in the ring when Espinosa knocked out Kennedy McKinney two years ago.

Keane has never judged an Espinosa fight. His claim to fame is judging three Oscar de la Hoya title bouts. He showed impartiality when he had Junior Jones ahead on points when local hero Erik Morales scored a fourth round knockout in Mexico in 1998.

What's going against Espinosa is the fact that in 33 world title fights between Filipinos and Mexicans (including Americans of Mexican descent) in history, the Philippines' winning percentage is a lowly 33 percent. Filipinos have won 11 and Mexicans, 21, with a draw. -