GESTA MOVES UP TO FACE TWO-TIME WORLD TITLE CHALLENGER
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 09 Nov 2011
Responding to criticism that he wasn?t facing truly worthy opponents, undefeated Filipino southpaw Mercito ?No Mercy? Gesta (23-0-1, 12 KO?s) and his trainer and co-manager Vince Parra decided to prove critics wrong by battling two-time world title challenger Ricardo Dominguez (34-7-2, 21 KO?s) at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino on Saturday, Manila Time.
In an overseas telephone conversation with the Manila Standard, Parra said ?I get criticism because of how high he (Gesta) has set the bar for himself.?
Referring to his lopsided ten round decision over Manuel Perez last September 17 Parra said ?he would have liked to have finished him but that?s a tough guy. We got the ten rounds so conditioning wise Mercito is in excellent condition, his timing is great and he went ten strong rounds and finished the fight strong. Even though he?s got criticism we?ve been able to look at the fight, look at the good things he did and the things we need to improve on. ?
Even though the fight against Dominguez is only less than two months after his previous fight in which Gesta also suffered a slight cut Parra isn?t worried although he didn?t train at the Wild Card Gym for a two-week period like he normally did for his previous fights.
Parra said they didn?t go to Wild Card because of the quick turnaround after the last fight but he was able to get ?some good sparring in San Diego during a short but sweet camp. We got some good work with junior welterweight prospect Antonio ?Tony?Orosco (12-0, 8 KO?s) and a couple of good, undefeated junior welterweights.?
Parra said Gesta ?wants to dominate just like we always plan on doing. We plan to work off the jab and throw a number of combinations. Mercito will fight an aggressive but intelligent fight. He wants the knockout but we are not going to press it.
If we see an opportunity then we are going to let go. You will see a far more disciplined fight from him and a really sharp and focused Mercito.?
Team Gesta has watched tapes of Dominguez who lost by twelve round unanimous decisions in an IBF lightweight title fight with Miguel Vazquez on November 27, 2010 and before that against Humberto Soto on May 15, 2010. However, Parra said that while Dominguez ?is impressive, he?s a sharp guy but like I?ve always said this kid Mercito the better opponent you put him in with and a willing opponent at a high level you?ll see the best of him.?
Parra said Gesta ?has been crying for a title shot and this is the fight that can put him there so its very important fight for him and he knows that.".
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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