ESPINOSA WIN SPARKS RIOT
El Paso, Texas, Aug. 17,1998 - The packed arena where Luisito Espinosa successfully defended his World Boxing Council crown became a messy battleground after the verdict was announced, when the hostile Mexican crowd, sore at the loss of their idol Juan Carlos Ramirez, staged a riot.
The ring was pelted with debris as Espinosa's entourage of eight that included the champion's son, 7-year-old John Louie, and his wife/manager Macherrie was whisked out. Burly American bodyguards shielded the champion and his family.
The crowd was largely composed of Mexicans who came to cheer for Ramirez, an icon from a tiny barrio in Juarez, Mexico, just across the border of El Paso. Before the fight, Ramirez promised his barriomates to build faucets for running water and drainage, and electric posts for electricity--if he wins. But he lost; his inexperience betrayed him.
Espinosa's win over Ramirez was his sixth title defense and a rousing start in fulfilling a six-fight contract with America Presents that should assure the Filipino no less than $1 million in two years.
Espinosa's next foe will most likely be Cesar Soto, another Mexican who has climbed back to No. 1 challenger after losing to Espinosa via unanimous decision on July 6, 1996, at the Rizal Park in what was billed as The First Battle of Manila Bay.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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