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Last Friday night at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, California, the latest promotion put on by All-Star Boxing was in grave shape. After several fights had already been scratched for various reasons, a late drop out had put the entire show in jeopardy. Frank Espinoza, who manages featherweight prospect Jesus 'Pollo' Hernandez, was asked if he would agree to having his fighter’s bout be extended from a scheduled six-rounder to eight.
For the fight card to proceed, the remaining three fights would have to be scheduled for a minimum total of 18 rounds. Espinoza's calculated risk would pay off as Hernandez would stop his foe - after getting floored early - in five rounds to improve his mark to 7-0. He got exactly what he wanted, continued activity for his fighter and valuable experience. It beat going home for the weekend with no fight at all.
Such is the life when you build young prizefighters’ careers by freelancing on various shows on the local club circuit. Unlike many other managers, who feel more comfortable hooking up with a major promotional firm from the very inception of a career, Espinoza, who runs the Espinoza Boxing Club, likes to build the foundation of his fighters before taking them to a brand name promoter.
“I think first of all, I'm good at scouting fighters," Espinoza would tell Maxboxing of his philosophy. "I look to get the right fights for my fighters; I like to take them slowly and carefully and then give them the shot at that particular time when they are ready to fight for a world title. So I nurture them till I get them to that position and then I know they can go on and fulfill their dream and be a world champion one day."
For the fight card to proceed, the remaining three fights would have to be scheduled for a minimum total of 18 rounds. Espinoza's calculated risk would pay off as Hernandez would stop his foe - after getting floored early - in five rounds to improve his mark to 7-0. He got exactly what he wanted, continued activity for his fighter and valuable experience. It beat going home for the weekend with no fight at all.
Such is the life when you build young prizefighters’ careers by freelancing on various shows on the local club circuit. Unlike many other managers, who feel more comfortable hooking up with a major promotional firm from the very inception of a career, Espinoza, who runs the Espinoza Boxing Club, likes to build the foundation of his fighters before taking them to a brand name promoter.
“I think first of all, I'm good at scouting fighters," Espinoza would tell Maxboxing of his philosophy. "I look to get the right fights for my fighters; I like to take them slowly and carefully and then give them the shot at that particular time when they are ready to fight for a world title. So I nurture them till I get them to that position and then I know they can go on and fulfill their dream and be a world champion one day."
