GESTA SCORES ROUSING WIN OVER EX TWO-TIME WORLD TITLE CHALLENGER
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 12 Nov 2011
Undefeated Filipino southpaw Mercito ?No Mercy? Gesta silenced critics who blamed his co-manager Vince Parra for parading low level fighters against him by scoring a rousing ten round decision over former two-time world title challenger Ricardo Dominguez (34-7-2, 21 KO?s) at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino earlier today.
ABS-CBN?s Las Vegas correspondent Bev Llorente who was at special ringside to cover the fight told the Manila Standard that Gesta dominated the fight and dropped Dominguez twice, once in the third round and once in the eighth.
However, referee Joe Cortez once again missed out and didn?t call the second knockdown which Parra recalls was towards the end of the eighth round.
Llorente reported that Gesta, a stylish southpaw won on the scorecards of all three judges, 99-91, 98-92 and 97-92
Gesta who clearly moved up a notch to face a worthy opponent and with the won not merely enhanced his stature as a world title contender but proved Top Rank promoter Bob Arum?s faith in him.
Gesta who is currently ranked WBO No. 5 and WBA No. 6 and lived up to his monicker "No Fear" faced the tough Mexican Dominguez 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 who improved to 24-0-1 with 12 knockouts was coming off a lopsided ten round decision over Manuel Perez last September 17.
In a post fight conversation with the Manila Standard, Parra said Gesta dropped Dominguez twice but referee Cortez called only one . He said ?he missed it because it was real quick.? He said Dominguez ?showed a lot of heart and was a tough challenger and finished the ten rounds.?.
Parra said ?Mercito was really disappointed in himself at first because he didn?t get the knockout but I told him you beat a world class guy and you proved you are a contender.?
He said Gesta showed improved from his last fight and after a little vacation back home in Mandaue City in the Philippines so he could spend time with his parents Anecito and Mercedes and that they would work on something with Arum and matchmakers Brice Trampler and Brad Goodman and ?hopefully challenging for the title.?
Photo: Mercito Gesta (L) connects with a left against Ricardo Domiguez during their bout Friday night at the Mandalay Bay Resorts in Las Vegas. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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