Rivera dies at 77

Former radio broadcaster Hermie Rivera, who managed two-division world champion Luisito Espinosa and Morris East, passed away recently in the US after a lingering illness. He was 77.

Rivera had also handled the career of one-time world flyweight title challenger Socrates Batoto in the 1970s but it was his partnership with Espinosa in the 1980s that propelled him to new heights.

When Espinosa won the World Boxing Association bantamweight crown with a first-round knockout of Khaokor Galaxcy in Bangkok in Oct. 1989, Rivera was his manager.

After his relationship with Espinosa soured, Rivera hooked up with East, who he steered to the World Boxing Association junior-welterweight title in September 1992.

Later on, Rivera became a contributor to boxing websites and even several newspapers and covered many of Manny Pacquiao’s fights in the US.

In May last year, Rivera even covered the superfight starring Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.