By Michael Marley

SAN DIEGO—You might think that an 82 year old, legendary boxing promoter, with an eye on actuarial tables, might be in something of a rush to discover whether his latest hot prospect is the goods.

But, in the case of longtime Olympic Auditorium matchmaker Don “War A Week” Chargin, now bravely soldiering on after the death last spring of his feisty wife and constant shadow Lorraine, there is no extreme pressure being put on rising Pinoy lightweight star Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta.

On the other hand, Chargin isn't feeding the southpaw with 19-0-1, nine KOs record, a succession of total cupcakes, either.

Gesta, a Cebuano who is making a mark in the United States, will be featured on Chargin's Telefutura show beamed from the Four Points Sheraton Hotel Friday night. Gesta's foe is battle-tested, Mexican journeyman Ivan Valle, who has been in with the likes of Humberto Soto and owns a checkered, 27-12-3 mark but has recorded 23 knockouts.

“This kid is starting to sell tickets,” Chargin said after Thursday night's quiet weigh-in. “He's getting the Filipino fans especially excited, I can see that.

“But, before I go all out with a fighter, I want to see two things. I want to see what happens when he gets whacked good on the chin and when an opponent takes him into some deep water.”

In other words, Chargin wants to see how the 23 year old handles adversity.

“I have just seen too many guys who were 15-0 or 20-0, too many guys like Victor Ortiz or Danny Jacobs who run along undefeated but then get tripped up by somebody. I've got great enthusiasm for Mercito but we still need to see some things. I'm from the Willie Ketchum School, meaning he's still got to prove some of these things.”

The Gesta-Valle bout is one of two scheduled eight-rounders topping the card in the hotel ballroom which is set up for a capacity of 1,100 fans at ticket prices ranging from $15 to $75.

I asked Chargin to describe Gesta's best ring attributes. Being Pinoy and a lefthander, there is a natural tendency for people to ask if he is a budding Manny Pacquiao.

“Mercito is different than Manny,” Chargin said. “Mercito can really punch but he's not typically a one shot and get the KO kind of guy. He usually gets you rolling with combinations.

“He can really box, his skills are good but he is also very aggressive. As far as Valle, he's been in with opposition much better, much more experienced than Mercito. The comparisons to Pacquiao I understood but this kid is a lot different.”

Chargin revealed that a group of Filipino businessmen from the Los Angeles area made a bid to buy Gesta's promotional rights but that he turned them away.

“They wanted to buy his contract but I did not want to sell,” Chargin said.

Summing up, Chargin likes what he's seen of Gesta but he wants more convincing evidence that this prospect has the makings of a world champion.

I have a feeling the jury will be in session Friday night.