One-on-one with Frank Espinoza
February 28th, 2008, 10:02 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Carlos Arias
To check out audio of the interview with Frank Espinoza, click here.
Boxing manager Frank Espinoza sat down with me following Wednesday’s news conference for “Vazquez vs. Marquez III: Final Confrontation” on Saturday night at Home Depot Center on Showtime.
Espinoza manages WBC super-bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez. He also manages many other top fighters such as former champions Martin Castillo and Julio Zarate, bantamweight prospect Alex Valdez, NABF lightweight champion Miguel Huerta and former amateur standouts Carlos Molina, Manny Roman and Luis Ramos.
Espionza talked about the significance of Vazquez-Marquez III to the sport of boxing and many other topics.
Here’s what Espinoza had to say:
On what Vazquez and Marquez’s trilogy has done for boxing:
“Well, you’re right, I and II have been great fights for the fans. I think it does put pressure. Fighters are seeing these are the fights the fans want to see, fights that are competitive. This is what these two warriors have given us and that’s what we’re going to expect in the third fight.
“Strategy … I think there is going to be no change. Whenever they square off … after the bell rings it’s just going to be like I and II. I believe his (Vazquez’s) power and his strength is going to overcome Marquez. That’s my feeling.
“But, yeah, I think it does put a lot of pressure on the other fighters. They want to be just as good as these guys fighting. They want to be up there with the elite. This is what they gotta do … fight.”
On Vazquez and Marquez fighting each other three times in one year:
“Way back in the day, I may be wrong, but Marquez-Vazquez, every fight, fight I, II and III in a row. I don’t think that’s ever been done before. I may be mistaken. You have three fights in one year without taking fights in between, and this is the first year anniversary on March 1. This is something about these two guys. Also let’s not forget he (Vazquez) has already fought another trilogy against (Oscar) Larios. This is the second time for him. But like I say, back-to-back-to-back, I think it’s the first time it’s ever happened in my time.”
On how well Vazquez and Marquez are being compensated:
“For that (122-pound) weight division, it’s pretty good. That’s what they deserve because they work hard, and they fight hard. This is what it’s all about.”
On whether we should judge the state of boxing by the way the heavyweight division is going:
“No, I don’t think so. These guys, I mean, getting back to pay, you got two guys busting their butts, fighting these great fights, and a lot of times the scale is judged by that, by the weight division. I think it’s unfortunate for these little guys. They give everything they got in the ring. They should get paid like a heavyweight. As far as heavyweights, I think a lot of people are starting to realize this fight is going to be history.”
On how the lighter weight classes get more respect in Mexico and Asian countries than they do in the U.S.:
“I don’t think we’ll see it (smaller fighters getting paid like heavyweights) right now, but if they start having more fights like this fighters are going to demand more, and television is going to have to pay for it. You gotta be honest, the network is who pays the fighters. If you can impress the networks and have great fights, I don’t see why not.”
On where the winner of Vazquez-Marquez goes next:
“Right now, the only thing that’s important to us is Rafael Marquez. The only date that’s important to us is March 1. Certainly, after all this is over, and after this win, I’ll be happy to sit down with anybody and discuss what we’ll do next. I don;t want to lose focus on this fight because we’ve got a heck of a fighter we’re fighting in front of us in Marquez.”
CARLOS ARIAS/The Register
