WHY IS MERCITO GESTA AVOIDED BY COMPETITION AROUND HIM?
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 11 Apr 2012
It's Easter Sunday evening in San Diego and while most of the country has either finished or is winding down their Eastern celebration, Mercito Gesta is still in a gym in San Diego busy training with his team. He celebrated mass and the holiday during the day but abruptly went back to the gym to continue his training. The Mandaue City fighter has business to take care of in the ring this Saturday at the Mandalay Bay, Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Gesta fights unheralded Oscar Cuero in what will be his opening salvo for 2012.
Gesta has been looking forward to prove himself this year against top tier competition especially after his name was floated around as a possible opponent to then lightweight champ, Brandon Rios. Gesta resumed training last December while still in vacation in the Philippines and just weeks after his November 10th win in Las Vegas. He has been a fixture of the gym leading to the Christmas holidays in Cebu and that continued until Easter evening in San Diego where he is based. Gesta trained everyday even when Top Rank has no date nor opponent for him. He was initially told that he'll fight last March 23 but was later moved to Saturday as an under card of what then was Rios vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa. Two names that Gesta's camp were interested in fighting even before that match was made. " Si Rios, yung kampo nila ayaw nila eh. Ewan kung bakit ayaw nila." ( Rios' camp does not want it. I don't know why they don't want the fight.) Gesta's manager Vince Parra told this writer back in December that they have accepted to fight Rios in the under card of the Miguel Cotto - Antonio Margarito bout in New York but Rios' team picked John Murray instead. Gesta's team also stated that they also challenged Yuriorkis Gamboa in the past but his camp refused as well.
Gesta stated that Rios and Gamboa were not the only one who refused to face him in the ring. It took them awhile to land them an opponent for this Saturday as other fighters were reluctant to sign to fight him. He mentioned the names of Jose Alfaro, Luis Arceo, American Ty Barnett and a certain Silva from Brazil. " Talagang ito na lang si Cuerro ang nag -accept." ( It was only Cuerro who accepted.) Gesta admitted that he was a little disappointed in not fighting a named opponent or one with a good record. " Medyo, dahil yung mga fans, gusto nila makita na medyo me pangalan yung kalaban ko atsaka mas magandang record pero wala akong magawa kundi I-accept yung fight. Siya lang ang nag - sign ng contract na lumaban kaya kesa hindi ako lumaban. ( I am a little bit disappointed because the fans wanted to see me fight a named opponent and /or one with a good record but Cuero was the only one who signed the contract and that's better than me not fighting.) said Gesta. I asked him what he thinks the reason is why these fighters avoid him. Gesta offers no clue. " Ewan ko. Baka nagkamali sila ng career nila, hindi boxing. ( I don't know. Maybe they chose the wrong career, it should not be boxing.) he jokingly replied.
Oscar Cuero who hails from Cartagena, Colombia has a professional record of 15 wins and 7 losses. What stands out of it is that 12 of his wins are by the way of knockout. A sign that the Colombian packs power and that is why Gesta is not taking him lightly. "Hindi ako dapat maging kumpiyansa dahil me lakas din."
(I should not be too confident because he is strong.) stated Gesta. " Pinaghandaan naming yung lakas nya , kasi kita naman sa record niya na me lakas. ( We have plans for his power because he is a strong fighter as seen in his record.) he added. Gesta watched tapes of Cuerro and opined that speed will be the key in this fight. " Nakita ko na hindi siya masyadong mabilis kaya ang advantage ko ay mas mabilis ako sa kanya. ( I saw that he is not that quick and that will be my advantage. I will be faster than him.) Gesta and his team has drawn out a fight plan for the Colombian, who despite losing 7 fights, only a single defeat of his came via a knockout proving that he can also be a tough cookie to crack. Gesta also downplayed Cuero's lack of experience as a factor noting that Cuero has supposedly an extensive amateur background. " I am focused on him and I intend to put up a good showing. If I can knock him out, I will knock him out."
Gesta knows he has to put a spectacular performance against Cuero in order to land the big fights that he desires. His name was once again mentioned early this year as a possible opponent for no less than Juan Manuel Marquez in July. This is according to Bob Arum himself who intends to pit him against the Mexican legend in a summer bout in Dallas stadium. It is interesting to note that both names mentioned for Gesta in Marquez and Rios will also be fighting separate opponents this Saturday in a pay per view offering from HBO and Top Rank. An impressive outing for him in the under card fight of these two will definitely further his name in consideration for Marquez and or Rios. "Sana pagkatapos nito, kung matuloy man yung kay Marquez or kung hindi man sana title fight na. Yun ang lagi kong hinihintay. ( I hope that after this, if ever the Marquez fight happens or not. I hope that I will fight for the title. I have been waiting for that.) Gesta said.
Mercito Gesta does not mind who he will face in the ring this Saturday in his return trip to Vegas in less than six months. His focus, determination and work ethic will remain the same whether or not he faces a named opponent or not. And him training on a late Easter Sunday night is a testament of how serious he is about this fight.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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