By Amy Green
Middleweight Miguel Espino (15-2-1) brings his six fight win streak to the National Guard Armory in Sylmar, California on Saturday, June 30, as he takes on Arturo Ortega, (12-4-3) in a scheduled eight round fight. Espino, a season one Contender alum meets Ortega in his first outing since capturing the WBC CABOFE title in a bout against Russian Sergei Stepkin in April.
Since losing a questionable bout to Peter Manfredo on The Contender, Espino has established a relentless work ethic with trainer John Bray, and is gaining ground in the talented middleweight division. With his hard work and the title win over Stepkin, Espino believes he is making progress toward bigger title fights, and the more lucrative, marquis TV events. "Beating Stepkin puts me in the position to get rated in the top 20 fighters in the world, so definitely, that’s the objective," Espino said. "Keep moving forward in my career, working toward the bigger fights."
Espino’s relationship with John Bray has been a constant in his career since 2000. Now in Bray’s new gym in San Fernando, Espino’s enthusiasm is contagious. "The new gym is beautiful!" He exclaimed. "Everything you need. And John Bray is one of THE top up and coming trainers around. And as you know, he trained Robert Guerrero for his first championship and got him there, and now I’ve won my first championship. It’s a little one, but it’s going in the right direction. John is just a great trainer all around."
Away from the ring, Espino balances a busy life with his boxing career. He cares for his mother who is legally blind and requires assistance for much of her day to day routine, and acknowledged it does become a bit difficult. "At time it does get difficult, but it’s been part of my life for so long, it’s just a day to day occurrence," Espino said. "There’s days that it’s frustrating, but all in all it’s for my family, all for my mom and my sister and future family, because I guess one day I will have kids, but right now it’s about them- my mom and sister."
Jackie Kallen worked with Espino during The Contender, and had nothing but praise for Espino’s regard for his family, and the care he devotes to his mother.
"Miguel was one of the nicest boxers on the show. Very quiet, polite and serious. What impresses me most about him is his dedication to his mother. He is so kind and loving to her," Kallen said.
Giving support to his family doesn’t stop with his mother. Espino’s sister is a college student at Carlson College in Minnesota and her proudest supporter is her brother.
"There’s a lot of expenses involved, and I help her out as much as I possibly can," Espino said modestly. "She’s my inspiration as well. I could have gone the college route but I chose not to and I know I could have bee n successful that way, but I chose to go the boxing route and I’ll be successful as well. "
Espino’s success is something he is interested in sharing and has already devoted his time and efforts when not in training to the youth at John Bray’s gym.
"I was one of those kids that didn’t really have anywhere to go, " he confided. "Except out on the streets, being a knucklehead. So I’m really gonna put a lot of effort into helping out at the gym, setting them up a non profit organization, and getting some funds available for them, for the kids."
What got Espino out of the streets and into the gym was his desire to participate in sports. "I wanted to play sports," he explained, "And boxing arose. I was told if you box, you get trophies. I said cool! And I tried it; I loved it. I loved hitting the speed bags even though I couldn’t hit them worth nothin’, but I was so focused and learned how to hit it and it went from there and I became good. I had a very good amateur career and it was great."
"The kids" won’t have the energy to be knuckleheads once they get a taste of the brand of conditioning and training Espino and Bray are serving at the gym. He described a part of he and Bray’s training: "Lots of hard work. Mitt work, bag work, the roadwork is great. And you have to be in awesome shape to go 10 rounds even 8 rounds, 4 rounds you have to be in great shape. But to take it to the next level to a 10 round fight you have to be in amazing shape." The roadwork Bray assigns is key to getting Espino in championship shape.
"My road work that John does," he said "You’re not just running or shadowboxing. You’re doing sprints. Run backwards. Run sideways. You’re doing squats. It’s like a whole procedure. That’s why we call it roadwork. Because you’re not just going for a run- you’re doing work, and on the road. Once you get to the point to where you’re in shape and you see your body changing you’re like I GOT TO GO! I FEEL GOOD! You feel the conditioning kick in. It’s an awesome feeling!"
A six fight-winning streak is also an awesome feeling for Espino, and he is promising more victories in the future on bigger and brighter stages.
"Keep looking out for me. I will keep winning and people will see my talent showcased soon on Showtime, HBO, ESPN, whatever the case may be. I will see my fans soon and want to keep on winning.