Espinoza Responds To Beristain's Dumping of Mares

By Robert Morales

Manager Frank Espinoza had a somewhat harsh response to trainer Nacho Beristain basically washing his hands of bantamweight prospect Abner Mares of Mexico.

Beristain was reportedly perturbed that Mares signed with Espinoza, of East Los Angeles, without his knowledge. Beristain told the publication The Record that "we will no longer train him" out of the Romanza Gym in Iztacalco, Mexico.

Espinoza signed Mares on Sunday. He said it was his understanding that Mexico's Beristain found out about it on Tuesday, the day Mares was headed to the the gym to inform Beristain.

"That's when Abner got the word he (Beristain) wouldn't train him," Espinoza said. "I don't have anything against Nacho. My only thinking is probably this is coming from the rivalry. Sometimes you win, but you gotta know how to lose, too. This is a business."

Espinoza was referring to Israel Vazquez having beaten Rafael Marquez in two of their three thrilling super bantamweight title fights. Espinoza manages Vazquez, Beristain trains Marquez. 

"I think it's maybe because I beat him two out of three and he's bitter," Espinoza said. "You win, but you have to know how to lose, too, and he shouldn't have taken it out on the kid because he didn't deserve that. I think it was bad on (Beristain's part)."

Espinoza was asked if perhaps Beristain may have been worried that Mares would spy for Espinoza if Vazquez and Marquez were to sign for a fourth fight. Vazquez on Thursday announced he is coming back to the ring after recovering from three surgeries to repair a detached retina in his right eye.

"I don't know what to think because he came out of left field with that," Espinoza said. "I don't know what his thinking is. Whatever reason it was, he shouldn't have taken it out on Abner." 

Mares is tentatively scheduled to fight on the undercard of the July 18 fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez. As of yet, he has no opponent. But once he does, he'll need a trainer. Espinoza said that trainer could be Naazim Richardson, who trains Bernard Hopkins.

"We are going to try to reach out to Naazim Richardson," Espinoza said. "We haven't made contact with him yet. But he would be nice."