GESTA SPARS WITH SHANE MOSLEY AT WILD CARD
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 26 Aug 2011
Undefeated Filipino southpaw Mercito ?No Mercy? Gesta got the surprise of his life when former three-division world champion Shane Mosley who was at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach in Los Angeles stepped up for a sparring session with him.
Gesta?s assistant manager and trainer Vince Parra told the Daily Inquirer that when they arrived at the gym to spar with undefeated Jose Benavidez who was in Arizona for a media event Mosley was there with his son who is ?an aspiring amateur fighter and they were looking for some sparring.?
Parra who knew Mosley having helped him in his preparation for his fight with Oscar De La Hoya on June 17, 2000 said he introduced Mosley to Gesta and the future Hall of Fame fighter ?offered to give us some rounds.?He also said that Gesta's father Anecito who was a boxer and a muay thai expert was a fan of Mosley.
He said Gesta went four rounds with Shane Mosley and two with Shane Jr. Parra described the sparring with Mosley as ?a great experience for Mercito. We weren?t really sure what to expect but he surprisingly showed a lot of veteran moves, he showed a little bit of speed and Mercito was right there with him. They traded punches and it was good.?
Parra said ?right off the bat Shane rushed Mercito to test him, knowing that he?s a veteran and Mercito is a strong, young kid. Once Mercito got his bearings, the sparring session went really well and Shane showed him a lot of respect even going so far as to tell me that he reminded him a lot of Manny (Pacquiao).? Mosley jokingly told Parra he wished he would have had Mercito to help him get ready for his fight with Pacquiao last May 7 which Pacquiao won by a near shutout.
Gesta went two rounds with Mosley?s son and according to Parra ?just moved around with him and worked on defense and didn?t try to go too hard on the kid.?
Gesta said he ?couldn?t believe that Mosley offered to spar with me. It was a great experience for me and helped me in terms of confidence.?
The undefeated southpaw said ?I felt I could take his punches? adding that in a brief exchange he was able to ?handle his power.?
Gesta said he was in good condition and precisely moved to the Wild Card Gym because of the quality sparring available and since the training is good. It also helps him keep his focus unlike San Diego where he has several friends which makes it a little difficult because of the distractions.
Gesta said he was humbled by the statement of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum that he is the next big Filipino star after Pacquiao. He said ?Manny has come really far. All I want to do is to make a name for myself.?
Gesta battles American Manuel Perez (16-6-1, 4 KO?s) at the BlueWater Resort and Casino in Parker, Arizona on September 17.
Photo: Gesta (R) earlier spars with Jose Benavidez at the Wildard Gym.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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