By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Astute Top Rank promoter Bob Arum whose prized possession is pound-for-pound king and “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao believes that his most recent signing, undefeated lightweight Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta has an exciting future ahead of him.
Arum told BoxingScene.com/Daily Inquirer “this Filipino kid Gesta is going to be a big star.”
Arum said that Gesta would see action on July 9 on the undercard of the WBA lightweight title fight between Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios and Urbano Antillon and that the Gesta fight “will be on the international telecast” which will also be carried in the Philippines by ABS-CBN.
He said he had included the fight of the 23 year old southpaw from Mandaue City on the telecast “so the Filipino people can see him in action” from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
Gesta who is based in San Diego City has a record of 21-0-1 with 11 knockouts and is coming off a dominating win over Mexican journeyman Genaro Trazancos who retired in the third round of a rematch last February 18.
In their first meeting Gesta won by a 7th round knockout.
The promising Filipino who usually winds up his training for a fight by spending a couple of weeks at the Wild Card Gym under Freddie Roach, is the reigning WBO North American Boxing Organization champion. He won the title when his opponent Oscar Meza retired in the fourth round following a vicious body shot from Gesta.
Although no opponent has been picked as yet for Gesta’s Top Rank debut, his co-manager Vince Parra has mentioned the name of former IBF champion Miguel Vazquez, the 24 year old Mexican with a record of 28-3 with 12 knockouts as a possible choice.