May17
MANILA, PHILIPPINES--Slick-punching counterpuncher LUISITO ESPINOSA, 125 3/4, kept his WBC feather throne on a techmical decision over ex-champ MANUEL MANTECAS MEDINA, Mexico, 126, at 1:22 of the 8th session at Luneta Park in Manila, Philippines. More than 20,000 partisan fans were in attendance, including the President Fidel V. Ramos. A severe and deep gash in the champ's left eyebrow caused a stoppage and it went to a decision with a pint deduction from Medina--a la the Chaves vs. Randall II. It's a grudge fight as Espinosa dethroned him on a unanimous nod in Tokyo (with yours truly as promoter) in Dec., 1995. Scored--Chuck Giampa (Nevada) 78-73, Kenjiro Makizumi (Japan) 78-73 and Tamotsu Tomihara (Hawaii) 77-75, all in favor of the Filipino speedstar. Espinosa, making his 4th defense, started well, as he threw good jabs to the 26-year-old Mexican hombre. The champ, 29, occasionally caught him with countering rights and triple lefts hooks to the onrushing opponent to win the first 3 sessions. However, Medina, former IBF and WBC ruler, maintained oressure on the fleet-footed champ to be in command in the 4th and 5th. Espinosa, in the 6th, again displayed many jabs and landed solid right uppercuts to the chin and to the belly to score a point. Medina accelerated his busy but light-punching attacks in the 7th, while Espinosa kept circling and jabbing. In the fatal 8th, Espinosa seemingly scored a knockdown with a short left hook in the close quarter when Medina was off balance, but was neglected by the third man. An accidental butt happened midway in the round, when ref Jay Nady declared a well-timed halt due to the champ's nasty cut. The tremendously deep cut cost Espinosa's opportunity to fight the IBF/WBO kingpin Prince Naseem Hamed this year. Espinosa raised his ledger to 41-7, 21 KOs, and Medina, who showed a good heart, fell to 53-9, 24KOs.
Promoter: Joe Koizumi
WBC supervisor: Roy Van Putten (Aurba)
