BY ALDRIN QUINTO
FORMER world champion Luisito Espinosa is set to seek the
help of President Arroyo in his bid to collect his unpaid purse from his fight
against Argentina's Carlos Rios in South Cotabato in 1997.
The former WBC featherweight and WBA bantamweight champion,
now based in the United States, returned here last week to grace the Elorde
Boxing Awards where he was among previous Filipino champions honored.
He has long filed a case in court against former South
Cotabato Gov. Hilario de Pedro, Manny Pacquiao's former business manager, Rod
Nazario, and Lito Mondejar seeking damages amounting to around P5 million.
Espinosa knocked out Rios in the sixth round to retain his
WBC title, to the delight of a partisan crowd. But while Rios went home with his
$60,000 purse, Espinosa was left holding an empty bag after fight promoters
failed to pay him $150,000 as guaranteed in the fight contract. All he received
in that fight was P100,000.
"Gusto ko lang sanang makabisita sa Presidente," Espinosa
told Malaya yesterday.
"Antagal na rin talaga ng hinintay ko. Sigurado naman ako
matutulungan ako ng Presidente," added the original tormentor of tough Mexican
fighters who was left to do odd jobs before getting hired as a stocker at a
Costco store in San Francisco.
Espinosa, who retired in 2005 after being knocked out by
Cristobal Cruz and turns 41 in June, added he would agree to a settlement but
that would depend on the offer.
The case is pending before the sala of Judge Rosario Cruz of
the Manila Regional Trial Court.
