Boxing champion Luisito Espinosa seeks balance from prize won in 1997, appeals to Marcos for help

Former Filipino world boxing champion Luisito Espinosa appealed to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. to help him in claiming the remaining balance of his prize money for a match he won in 1997.

According to Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras," Thursday, Espinosa is currently in a difficult phase in his life as he said he hardly recovers from the challenges he has been experiencing.

Back in 2015, the Court of Appeals ruled that Espinosa should receive the expected amount of his prize money from a fight against Carlos Rios of Argentina. The boxer's camp complained of receiving incomplete payments from the organizers of the fight.

"Sana naman matulungan n'yo naman ako dahil wala naman akong ginawang masama. Pinagtanggol ko naman ang Pilipinas," Espinosa said.

"Sa presidente natin na si BBM, sana po matulungan n'yo po ako kasi hanggang ngayon, 'di pa rin ako nababayaran noong laban ko noong 1997 sa Mindanao," he said.

("I hope you can help me because I haven't done anything wrong. I fought for the Philippines. To our president BBM, I hope you can help me because until now, I still haven't been paid for my fight in Mindanao back in 1997.")

GMA News is still waiting for Malacañang Palace to respond to Espinosa's request.

Espinosa returned to the Philippines this year after trying to live in the United States, as well as working as a boxing trainer in Hong Kong and mainland China. However, Espinosa used up his savings and said he took on different jobs to survive.

"Down na down ako eh. Talagang para akong tinapakan ngayon. Para akong basahan ba," Espinosa said.

("I fell down so hard. It's like I'm being stepped on right now. Like a doormat.")

The former champion also said he is still open to returning to the ring, despite having a condition in his speech and being forgetful sometimes.

"Kaya ko pa. OK lang 'yon kasi ang katawan ko, active pa. Malakas pa rin," he said.

("I can still do it. It's fine because my body is still active and strong.")

For almost three months now, the former Filipino boxing champion has been residing with his friend John Manongsong, who himself was saddened with what happened to Espinosa.

"Naaawa ako dahil binigyan niya tayo ng karangalan. Ako bilang isang Pilipino, iniisip ko na lang may utang na loob ako sa kanya," Manongsong said.

("I feel bad for him because he gave us pride. As a Filipino, I think I owe him something.")

In his professional career, Espinosa had a 47-13 card, which included 26 knockout wins.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/MGP, GMA News