GESTA DOMINATES BARNETT EN ROUTE TO A 9TH RD TKO VICTORY
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 04 Aug 2012
Filipino lightweight prospect Mercito 'No Mercito' Gesta continues his rise to the limelight after delivering an impressive performance by knocking out Washington's Ty Barnett in the 9th Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) at the Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas.
Unofficial scorecards by the ESPN panelists only gave the 3rd round to Barnett who had no answer to Gesta's quick counters and combinations. In the 5th round, Gesta wobbled Barnett but Barnett survived Gesta's onslaught. Gesta continued to dominate Barnett in the succeeding rounds until a sudden burst of combination by Gesta midway in the 9th sent Barnett to the canvas for the first time. Gesta again sent Barnett to the canvas just as the bell rings wherein Referee Jay Nady came in to stop the contest for a Gesta TKO victory. Time was 2:59 of the 9th round.
Future hall of famer Sugar Shane Mosley, subbing for Teddy Atlas on ESPN, heaped praises on Gesta and said "Gesta will go far because of his ring generalship and quick movement and accurate punches." Mosley, however, also pointed out Gesta's weakness to wait a longer before initiating action. "Gesta should fight the whole three minutes of every round," according to Mosley.
Gesta, of Mandaue, Cebu who now calls San Diego home, improves his record to 26 wins, one draw with 14 knockouts. Barnett absorbed the 3rd defeat of his career for a record of 20-3-1, 13KO.
Barnett down in the canvas in the night round. Photo by Dr Ed de la Vega.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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