By Michael Marley
The door is open for former trainer Carl Penalosa to return to the team of lightweight Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta (23-0-1).
Penalosa, who lives in the Philippines, spoke to Examiner.com's Dennis Guillermo about how the lack of a United States visitor visa has prevented him from being with the Cebu southpaw during his last few bouts.
When Penalosa trained Gesta, the boxer was 17-0. Fresh off a sizzling victory over 135 pound division gatekeeper Manuel Perez in Parker, Arizona, Saturday night, Gesta moved his pro mark to 24 bouts without a loss.
"Carl Penalosa is like family to me," Gesta said. "My door is always open to Carl to return if he can."
Similarly, co-manager and trainer Vince Parra echoed Gesta.
"I've been doing the job that Carl started," Parra said. "It was Carl who asked to me to step in. Carl is always welcome back to our camp, our team."
Gesta's next fight date is Nov. 11 in Las Vegas, the evening before the Juan Manuel Marquez-Manny Pacquiao bout.
Carl Penalosa is the brother of Gerry Penalosa, Dodie Boy Penalosa, and Jonathan Penalosa, also the grandfather of Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr.