By Rey Danseco
TWO other Filipino fighters will find their time to shine in the “Grand Finale” card aside from Manny Pacquiao who will be facing Erik Morales on November 18 in Las Vegas.
Light flyweight Brian Viloria and featherweight Mercito Gesta are both ready to rumble against their respective Mexican foes like the condition of the confident Pacquiao against Morales.
Viloria, a proud son of Ilocos Sur province in Northern Philippines, aims to regain the World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight title from his conqueror Omar Nino Romero in 12-round rematch.
Viloria trains along with Pacquiao at Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. He lost the belt to hand-picked challenger Romero with unanimous decision over 12 rounds on August 10 at Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Gesta, who is unbeaten in 11 starts, faces an opponent who is look like a patsy, Juan Carlos Santiago in 8-round, featherweight affair.
Gesta trains under Carl Penalosa Jr., brother of popular former champions Gerry and Dodie Boy Penalosa, at RWS Gym of his manager Rex "Wakee" Salud in Cebu City.
Gesta is a 19-year old, 5-foot-5 southpaw with 10-0-1 win-loss-draw records with three knockouts in his three-year campaign.
The Las Vegas-based, 28-year old Santiago hasn’t registered a win in his last six outings since June 2005 when he suffered three straight losses and draws respectively.
Since May 2003, Santiago took only two victories both by decisions in 13 fights and has overall record of 8-8-4, 2 KOs.
