By Ronnie Nathanielsz

In a battle of the undefeated, Filipino southpaw Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (21-0-1, 11 KO’s)  is being matched against another undefeated southpaw out of Santa Ana, California, Luis Ramos Jr (17-0, 8 KO’s).

Gesta’s co-manager and trainer Vince Parra told the Inquirer that Team Gesta was “looking forward towards a match with Luis Ramos or better, nothing less.”

Parra said he had spoken to promoter Don Chargin this week to find out who is next on the Gesta hit-list.

The trainer said that if the decision was up to Gesta, “he’d fight Brandon Rios next but he knows he needs to prove that by beating tough opponents like Rios has.”

Rios won the WBC lightweight title with a rousing 10th round knockout of champion Miguel Acosta last Saturday in Las Vegas.

Parra  said Ramos “is a step in the right direction” for Gesta.

However, as co-manager and trainer of Gesta, Parra said “I tell you, I believe Mercito has not only the talent to beat Brandon Rios, but he can stop him. Their styles are made for each other. It will be “Fight of the Year’ should it happen.

The 22 year old Ramos won an eight round unanimous decision over John Figueroa last September 27, 2010 after scoring a four round decision over Walter Estrada on February 25, 2010. Estrada is the same fighter who was knocked out in the 1st round by Filipino southpaw Michael Farenas, a protégé of former two division world champion Gerry Penalosa on May 1, 2009.

Ramos also won a fairly close but unanimous six round decision over Cristian Fvaila on September 24, 2009. Gesta, on the other hand scored an eight round shutout over Favila on February 25, 2010..

In his last fight on February 18 at the Longshoreman Hall in San Francisco, Gesta battered Genaro Trazancos into retirement in three rounds .