GESTA GOING AFTER KATSIDIS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 10 Aug 2010
Undefeated Filipino southpaw Mercito ?No Mercy? Gesta has two more fights to hurdle before his team feels he?ll be ready to face WBO interim champion Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KO?s) of Australia.
The 22 year old Gesta?s co-manager Vince Parra who is in Los Angeles with Gesta as he continues his preparation for an August 20 showdown with 35 year old Mexican journeyman Genaro Trazcanos told us Gesta will soon after defend his WBO North American Boxing Organization Youth title on September 17 in San Diego against an unknown challenger as of now.
After the title defense arranged by Gesta?s promoter Don Chargin, Parra said ?we are going after Michael Katsidis.?
Parra disclosed that he received a call from Chargin who was at the title fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan ?Baby Bull? Diaz in which Marquez retained his title with a comfortable unanimous points decision and that Chargin informed him he was with Golden Boy and Katsidis and ?they are trying to make that fight.?
Parra conceded that a Katsidis fight ?is somewhat of a long shot because he is chasing the big names for the big money but we feel with the next two fights and some good performances Golden Boy will get behind us to make the fight happen. They are talking about as early as January 11 and we hope to be fighting Katsidis for the WBO crown.?
The co-manager said that since his last fight on June 4 this year when he forced talented and tough Oscar ?Estudiante? Meza (19-3, 17 KO?s) retire in the 4th round to win the WBO NABO title, Gesta has ?gotten into a strength training program and I?m very proud of him.?
Parra noted that the young Filipino who fights out of San Diego and has a record of 18-0-1 with 8 knockouts has ?really stepped up his work ethic. He knows that success is close and right now he is very focused on just this next fight.?
Parra said Gesta is confident he can beat Katsidis while he himself is certain that Gesta ?can out-box him for sure and fully dominate him with good boxing and natural hand-speed.?
Gesta has looked impressive in taking on two top-notch sparring partners of pound-for-pound king and fellow Filipino southpaw Manny Pacquiao, welterweight Abdullah Amidu who has a record of 18-0 with 17 knockouts and Raymund Beltran who sports a record of 23-4 with 15 knockouts.
Parra told us he was very pleased with the sparring and the manner in which he handled both experienced and tough fighters and indicated ?it?s just a matter of time before people realize how talented Mercito is.?
Top photo: Vince Parra (L) and Mercito Gesta pose for a photo at the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood Friday. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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