GESTA BATTLES TWO-TIME WORLD TITLE CHALLENGER SATURDAY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 11 Nov 2011
Undefeated Filipino southpaw Mercito ?No Mercy? Gesta (23-0-1, 12 KO?s) doesn't worry about conceding two inches in height when he battles 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.
Gesta is clearly moving up a notch to face a worthy opponent where a win would enhance his marketability as a world title contender. He is currently ranked WBO No. 5 and WBA No. 6 and is living up to his monicker "No Fear" by agreeing to face the tough Mexican even though its less than two months after his last fight in which he also suffered a cut.
Both fighters came in at an identical 136 pounds which is just one pound over the lightweight limit and looked ripped and ready.
Gesta's manager Vince Parra has had to fend off critics who claimed Gesta was not fighting solid opponents. Parra told the Manila Standard ?I get criticism because of how high he (Gesta) has set the bar for himself.?
Discussing his last fight in which Gesta scored a lopsided ten round decision over Manuel Perez on 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.?
Although this time around Gesta didn't train like he usually does, spending two weeks at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym, Parra isn't worried.
Parra told us they had to skip the Wild Card stint because of the quick turnaround after the last fight. However he said Gesta 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.?
Photo: Gesta flexes his muscles during the official weighin Thursday at the Mandalay Bay Resorts Hotel & Casino. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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