MERCITO GESTA WINS ANOTHER ONE AT TUCSON
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 10 Nov 2008
Los Angeles, CA:-Mercito Gesta, the ?Guerrero? from Labogon in Mandaue, Cebu must have found his lucky charm at the Casino del Sol at Tucson, Arizona.
Following two victories in a row, one at the All State Arena in Rosemont, Illinois where he won a majority decision over Carlos Madrid (8-5-2 0KO) in August of 2007, he fought at the Hard Rock Casino at Las Vegas and beat Carlos Vinan (8-6-3, 1KO) via a 4th round TKO last October 2007.
Then he was booked at the Casino del Sol at Tucson against Benito Zepeda. Zepeda (5-5-2,4KO) proved to be a weak opponent as Gesta scored a KO in round 1.
With that victory, the folks that promote at the Casino del Sol knew they found a jewel in the rough. Thus, they booked Gesta again yesterday under the IBA title fight of Rogers Mtagwa and Thomas Villa . Gesta was matched against old veteran Cristian Favela who parades a record of 16-16-5, 10KO. The fight was even televised on Solo Boxeo Tecate.
Favela?s fight record includes a loss to Steven Luevano of Los Angeles who now holds the WBO featherweight title after a recent victory over undefeated Billy Dibs of Australia. Favela also lost by UD to David Diaz, the same David Diaz from whom Manny Pacquiao took the WBC Lightweight title.
But Favela is best known by Filipinos for his rough and tumble fight with Czar Amonsot at the Orleans Hotel Casino in Las Vegas in February 2006.
This writer who witnessed that fight still remembers Amonsot?s artificially bleached blond hair turned red by blood from Favela after the final bell rung. It was a bloody mess of a fight. Amonsot incidentally won on all of the judges? cards. It was a unanimous decision.
Last night, Favela?s fight with Gesta was a whole lot different. It was a defensive fight with both fighters trying hard to blow through it?s other?s defense. Gesta won the first two round mainly due to the heavier power shots he landed. He clearly lost the third and won the rest by a slight margin.
It was not a pretty win, if one was expecting a KO, but it was almost methodical. Indeed, it was a good victory for Gesta. With the victory, Gesta improved his record to 14-0-1 (5KO).
Gesta was supposed to fight at the Sycuan casino alongside Bernabe Concepcion and Dennis Laurente under the Manny Pacquiao Promotions fight card last September. Unfortunately, his fight was cancelled the last minute as apparently Michael Koncz blew the match up.
Gesta?s undefeated record should now command better fights. But being based in the San Diego area, he may not have much exposure. Hopefully however, with his winnings ways, things will start looking brighter for the ?Guerrero? from Mandaue.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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