MERCITO GESTA: ?I AM READY FOR WAR!?
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 03 Aug 2012
A day before he headlines his first major event in the U.S., Mandaue City?s own Mercito Gesta is a picture of confidence and determination.
The 24 year old undefeated boxer once again returns to the bright lights of Las Vegas, this time as the main feature of ESPN?s Friday Night Fights against American Ty Barnett.
Gesta who has been training since June for this fight expressed readiness for a hard fight against the 20-2 Barnett who has been very vocal of late.
But Gesta has long been preparing himself for a fight, even before Barnett was named as his next opponent in a bout scheduled at the Texas Casino Station in Las Vegas.
Gesta?s name was the front runner to face Juan Manuel Marquez in a proposed fight last July in Dallas, Texas. Gesta and his team were hoping that they would get this landmark fight. They even had big plans ready for a big training camp which included a stint at the mountainous Big Bear Lake, a favorite training ground of elite athletes of the sport.
But the Marquez fight did not materialize which disappointed Gesta. ?I was a bit disappointed, because they (Top Rank Promotions) promised that I will get that fight,? he expressed. ?I was ready, my team was ready and our camp at Big Bear was ready.?
?Medyo na-disappoint, pero minsan nangyayari yun sa laban. Kaya, move on na lang,? (A bit disappointed, but I know that such things happen. I just have to move on) Gesta said.
Gesta said that Marquez wanted the fight but Top Rank cannot accommodate the Mexican?s asking price for the fight to continue. ?Hindi nagkasundo, kaya yun nangyari.? (They did not come up to an agreement and that?s what happened.)
The Filipino southpaw was then offered to headline the weekly Friday Night Fight series on ESPN against the taller Barnett. Gesta trained in San Diego where the Cebuano is now based, under the watchful eyes of trainer and co-manager Vince Parra, his dad, Anecito Sr. and cut man Stephen Lunas.
?He is focused and he really trained hard for this fight. It will be an explosive fight if Barnett backs his words,? said Lunas.
Barnett has been dismissing Gesta in recent interviews with the press and expressed confidence that he will ?expose him?.
Gesta will be giving a four inch height advantage to the 29 year old Barnett. But Gesta prepared himself against that by sparring not only against taller but also bigger counterparts during his training for this fight.
?Our main sparring partners weighed 154 pounds and 147 pounds and stands at 6?1? and 5?9?. They are both strong and talented,? says his trainer, Vince Parra.
?All his spar mates are welterweights. He should be okay. Height should not be a factor,? seconded Lunas.
?The pressure is on Ty Barnett now. Talk is done, now he has to back it. We?ve been here before,? Parra declared.
Mercito Gesta is not only ready against his taller foe but is ready to prove him wrong too. He is not only ready for the neon lights of Vegas and a national audience but is ready to shine in it as well.
He is not only ready for a fight but is ready for a hard battle inside the ring tonight.
And in yesterday?s pre-bout meeting with ESPN, Gesta states, ?I am ready for war!?
You can email the author at rrmaze24@aol.com for any reactions to this piece.
Photo: Undefeated Mercito 'No Mercy' Gesta from Cebu, Philippines poses during Thursday's weighin in advance for his upcoming Lightweight battle against Ty Barnett on Top Rank's "The Future is Now" show on Friday, August 3 in the Dallas Event Center at Texas Station Gambling Hall and Casino in Las Vegas. Photo by Chris Farina - Top Rank.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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