By Ryan Maquiñana
If WBA lightweight champ Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios meant to elicit a response from Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta with his words on yesterday’s debut of BoxingScene.com’s radio show, The Boxing Lab, mission accomplished.
“He thinks he’s the best lightweight, but he’s not,” said the 23-year-old Filipino who stands at 22-0-1, 12 KOs. “He just has the best mouth.”
Gesta, a San Diego resident via Mandaue City, Philippines, gave his side on how everything started.
“I’ve been calling his name out, and he’s been saying I have to work my way up,” Gesta stated. “Well, I’m working my way up, and if it comes up on Manny [Pacquiao]’s undercard in November, try me. If he thinks he can take me out, try me.”
He then analyzed how a fight with Rios would transpire in his opinion.
“I saw Rios fight [in Carson], and if we fought, I would beat him,” Gesta predicted confidently. “His style is all about coming forward. When he does that, he opens himself up and he doesn’t have defense. The way he’s talking about me, I can’t wait to fight him.”
Gesta was referring to Rios’s comments yesterday about a potential matchup between the two:
“I hear that Gesta is talking sh*t, that he wants to fight me,” Rios declared assertively. “He doesn’t really do anything for me but if they want to make it Mexican versus Filipino I will f*ck him up. I will tear him a new assh*le!”
Rios (28-0-1, 21 KOs), a 25-year-old product of Oxnard, Calif., also opined that Michael Katsidis or Kevin Mitchell might be his next foe. “Bam Bam” is quickly becoming one of the most popular fighters in the sport after an explosive first defense of his belt when he mowed down a valiant Urbano Antillon in three rounds two Saturdays ago.
Gesta just happened to be on that Carson, Calif., undercard, garnering a third-round stoppage of his own against Jorge Pimentel. His manager and trainer, Vince Parra, also chimed in on the controversy, noting that the fight could happen down the line especially since they share the same promoter, Top Rank.
“I think Brandon’s a comedian,” Parra said. “It’s great for boxing. One day, they can make a fight and the talk can stop.
“They’re saying the guy is supposed to be this big beast, and that he’s supposed to eat Mercito alive. Well, if the guy who’s supposed to be eaten alive doesn’t care and just shrugs his shoulders at that and says, ‘Try to take me out,’ then let’s get to work!”
As BoxingScene.com first broke the news earlier this week, Gesta will headline a Top Rank Live card in Parker, Ariz., on Sept. 17. Sources say the Filipino will then most likely fight in Las Vegas on Nov. 11, the night before the Pacquiao-Marquez showdown.
“If by any stretch of the imagination, Top Rank said that if you want Rios on the Pacquiao-Marquez undercard for the WBA championship, we wouldn’t have to take five seconds to say, ‘Let’s do it.’ Look, we’ve agreed to go along with Top Rank’s plan for us, but the Rios fight would be his dream match.”
Don’t miss the next episode! Listen to BoxingScene.com correspondents Ernest Gabion, Luis Sandoval, and Ryan Burton on The Boxing Lab every Tuesday at 6 p.m. PST/9 p.m. EST. LINK: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/leave-it-in-the-ring/2011/08/10/the-boxing-lab-radio
Ryan Maquiñana is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.