GESTA DELIVERS DOMINANT PERFORMANCE AT ESPN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 04 Aug 2012
Mercito ?No Mercy? Gesta dominated American Ty Barnett and dropped him twice near the end of round nine to win by a TKO at 2:59 of the round at the Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas Saturday.
Future Hall of Famer Shane Mosley agreed with the ESPN Friday Night Fights fans who had the hard-hitting Filipino southpaw winning seven of the eight rounds before referee Jay Nady called a halt with Barnett on wobbly legs and in no condition to continue.
Gesta dropped Barnett for the second and last time with a big left hand, a sweeping right and then another big left that sent Barnett to the canvas just as the bell sounded.
The win raised undefeated Gesta?s record to 26-0-1 with 14 knockouts while Barnett who dropped to 20-3-1 with 13 knockouts. Significantly, all three losses suffered by Barnett from Washington D.C were by knockouts.
Mosley who did the commentary with Joe Tessetore said Gesta ?has great ring generalship. He moves around the ring very well. He waits for the last part of the round and saves his energy but he needs to be more consistent because there will be a guy in there that?s going to be more consistent.?
Mosley recalled that he had sparred with the Filipino southpaw while preparing for his title fight against ?Fighter of the Decade? Manny Pacquiao.
Gesta?s father Anecito was all smiles in the ring after his son who turned pro at the age of 16 and whom he converted from an orthodox fighter to a southpaw had racked up another impressive victory.
Barnett?s best round was the third when he caught Gesta with a good right straight behind the jab and also worked some shots to the body as Gesta appeared to ease off even as Barnett, for the first time in the fight looked competitive.
Gesta reasserted his superiority in the next round when he caught Barnett with a left uppercut followed by a solid right and nailed the taller American with a sweeping right hand and a left hook that clearly hurt him.
Gesta, cheered on by a contingent of Fil-American fans continued to pick his punches and nailed Barnett with a series of combinations slowly wearing him down.
Mosley noted that Gesta planted his right foot right on the side of Barnett?s left foot and "came up on top with a right hand which he does so well.?
As the fight wore on Barnett?s corner told him ?what are you waiting for?? in a measure of frustration that the taller fighter was not working behind the jab and using his height and reach advantage to stave off Gesta.
Gesta who is co-managed and trained by Vince Parra had Barnett in a little bit of trouble at the end the opening round and also had him wobbly in the latter half of the fifth round but couldn?t put him away.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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