GESTA BEGINS TRAINING AT WILD CARD GYM
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 23 Aug 2011
Undefeated super lightweight Mercito ?No Mercy? Gesta has begun training at the Wild Card Gym of celebrated trainer Freddie Roach in Los Angeles as he steps up preparation for his clash with Manuel Perez at the BlueWater Resort and Casino in Arizona on September 17.
The 23 year old southpaw?s trainer and manager Vince Parra told the Daily Inquirer in an overseas telephone conversation that Gesta who now fights under Top Rank, sparred six rounds with undefeated lightweight Jose Benevidez Jr 12-0, 11 KO?s) and ? It went great. Perfect. We worked on what we needed on technique. It was spirited sparring, exactly what we need to be super sharp.
Parra said Gesta who has a record of 22-0-1 with 12 knockouts is in good physical shape after doing three weeks of strength and conditioning training in San Diego where he ?worked some rounds with light welterweight prospect Antonio Orosco.?
Parra said that Gesta would step up his sparring and would also spar with former WBA super featherweight world champion Jose Linares(31-1, 20 KO?s) over the next three weeks.
He said Gesta ?is where he needs to be right now and is sharp because he stayed active after his last fight? in which he scored a 3rd round knockout of Jorge Pimentel, dropping him once in every round.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum was ecstatic after watching Gesta destroy Pimentel and predicted he would be the next big Filipino star after reigning pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.
Parra said he had watched the 27 year old Perez (16-6-1, 4 KO?s) in his first clash with current WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios on October 3, 2008 which ended in a majority draw in a fight Parra thought Perez should have won. However in their rematch Rios won by a 7th round TKO on October 17, 2009
Parra noted that the record of Perez ?is deceiving because he is a good, spirited opponent but I think we have a good plan for him. We plan on making a statement and beating this guy in spectacular fashion.
While in San Diego, Gesta trained at Alliance Training ?with UFC champions Brandon Vera and Dominick Cruz and went through a two-days-a- week regimen with those guys.? He s aid Gesta did ?strength explosion exercises and cardio.?
Parra noted that Gesta ?is getting stronger in every camp and here we get good sparring that?s why we are here.?
Photo: Future Top Rank star Super Lightweight Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta hammers the double end bag during his workout at the Wildcard Boxing Club in Hollywood,Ca. Monday. Gesta is in preparations for his upcoming televised feature fight on Top Rank's "Top Rank Live" - FSN televised card, Saturday,Sept. 17 from the BlueWater Resort & Casino in Parker, Az. --- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank.
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