GELLO-ANI BELIEVES JESSE ESPINAS IS A WORLD CLASS FIGHTER
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 29 Feb 2016
Well known promoter Sammy Gello-ani believes Jesse Espinas who scored a spectacular 8th round TKO victory over previously unbeaten Paipharob Kokietgym who was ranked No. 2 by the WBO and on the verge of earning a mandatory title shot, is ?a world class fighter although he has had only a few fights.?
Gello?ani told The Standard shortly after his rival from Bangkok that Espinas ?will continue training and I am willing to accept any offer for a championship fight because I know he (Espinas) can deliver.?
Despite a 7 hour hour travel time to Surin where the fight was held, Gello-ani said he told Espinas he ?had to accept any difficulties? in an effort to become a champion.
Gello-ani told us that Espinas trains in his training facility in Misamis Oriental where ?everything is fresh and there is no pollution.?
He said the 23 year old had no vices even as he credited trainer Eduardo Suito for ?very good training? in preparation for the WBO Oriental title bout in which he dropped the Thai champion three times en route to the rousing TKO victory.
Espinas engaged Paipharob in several furious exchanges up close before the power of the Filipino dropped the Thai champion once in the third round and twice in the 8th round with some vicious combinations to the head and body giving the referee no choice but to call a halt as the hapless Thai champion was in no position to continue.
Espinas weathered some big shots from Paipharob but proved he was resilient and countered with awesome shots of his own to seal a big win for promoter Sammy Gello-ani.
Espinas stunned the Thai who was ranked No. 2 behind champion Donnie Nietes in the WBO rankings and was also ranked No. 6 by the IBF and No. 4 by the WBA and was previously unbeaten with a record of 32-0 with 25 knockouts and was known as "The King of Knockouts." He is 32 years old.
But he fell prey to the 23 year old Espinas nicknamed "Little Giant" whose record was a comparative unimpressive 12-2 although he did have 8 knockouts.
WBO Asia Pacific head Leon Panoncillo informed us that Espinas was previously world-ranked by the WBO but dropped out of the rankings after he lost to undefeated Christian Araneta who was a flyweight with a record of 10-0 with 9 knockouts.
Espinas is a minimum weight.
Gello-ani praised promoter/manager Kokiet Paniochyarom who ?accepted defeat without any remorse.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Signed, Sealed… but Still Unsettled: Unanswered Questions Hang Over Fury-Joshua Ahead of Expected Ink
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , Wed, 29 Jul 2026VETERAN SAVVY VS UNDEFEATED POWER: MUGICHA NAKAGAWA VS LEMUEL DE BARBO AUGUST 1 IN LA TRINIDAD
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 29 Jul 2026SKYE NICOLSON TO DEFEND WORLD TITLE AGAINST MIYO YOSHIDA ON AUG 29 IN BIRMINGHAM AS MATCHROOM AND MVP ANNOUNCE ALLIANCE
Wed, 29 Jul 2026Tickets for Martinez vs. Plantic in Los Angles, Saturday, August 29
Wed, 29 Jul 2026Grandy Twins Celebrate Milestone 18th Birthday, Set to Shine at BiYu Promotions' "Fights Under the Lights" on August 14
Tue, 28 Jul 2026Sergeev and Lubkovich set for key bouts at WINLINE. IBA.PRO 20 in Naberezhnye Chelny
Tue, 28 Jul 2026Hard-hitting SEA Games bronze medalist Mark Ashley Fajardo signs with Sanman Boxing
Tue, 28 Jul 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 27 JULY 2026: Tszyu vs Spence, Return of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury Highlight Busy Week
By Eric Armit, Tue, 28 Jul 2026The Legacy Continues: Team Durán Prepares for Historic Panama-Mexico Showdown
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 28 Jul 2026NM Ric Portugalera Tops Hongkong Blitz Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 28 Jul 2026Nurghali gets second shot at Japparbergenov’s bantamweight title at International Boxing Day in Astana
Tue, 28 Jul 2026Champion's Mindset: Gustavo Trujillo Ready to Defend BKB Heavyweight Title Against Mark O'Neil at BKB 58
Tue, 28 Jul 2026Spanish boxer Eddine has been Hospitalized in Spain
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 28 Jul 2026PH football in group C, G
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 28 Jul 2026PHILBOXING.COM MONDAY ROUNDUP: Tszyu Outclasses Spence in Sydney as "The Truth" Retires; Heavyweight Drama in Pattaya and Jeddah
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , Mon, 27 Jul 2026