Gesta vs Perez Likely on 9/17, followed by 11/11 Date

By Ryan Songalia

Undefeated lightweight prospect Mercito Gesta (22-0-1, 12 KO) of San Diego, Calif. will likely face Manuel Perez (16-6-1, 4 KO) of Denver, Colo. on September 17 at the BlueWater Resort & Casino in Parker, Ariz., says Top Rank matchmaker Brad Goodman.

Gesta's fight will be televised by Fox Sports in America on the Top Rank Live series.

Perez held current WBA lightweight champ Brandon Rios to a draw in 2008, but was knocked out in seven rounds the following year in a rematch.

The Mandaue City, Cebu-native Gesta, 23, is coming off five straight knockout wins and made his Top Rank debut last month, knocking out Jorge Pimentel in three rounds.

Goodman says that Top Rank is also looking to highlight Gesta in Las Vegas on November 11 - the night before Manny Pacquiao faces Juan Manuel Marquez for the third time - at either the Mandalay Bay or the MGM Grand Arena.

Goodman is eyeing former two-time lightweight title challenger Ricardo Dominguez (34-7-2, 21 KO) of Tuscon, Ariz. for that date. The 26-year-old Dominguez dropped a split-decision to the aforementioned Rios in 2008, and suffered decision losses to lightweight titlists Humberto Soto and Miguel Vazquez in two title challenges in 2010.

Gesta's manager/trainer Vincent Parra says that they are anticipating a big turnout from the San Diego area for next month's fight in Arizona, which will also feature local rising star Jose Benavidez, (12-0, 11 KO).

"That area is probably a three-hour drive from the eastern part of San Diego, which is where Mercito lives," said Parra. "The area [Parker, Arizona] where the fight is is vacation area, a lot of boating, jet-skiing, water-skiing goes on there. A lot of people from that part of San Diego go out there. There's going to be a pretty good caravan of people going out there to watch the fight."

Gesta will promote the September 17 fight by throwing out the first pitch at the San Diego Padres' home game at Petco Field versus the Colorado Rockies on September 3, which is billed as Filipino Heritage Night.

Ryan Songalia is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and contributes to GMA News and the Filipino Reporter newspaper in New York City. He can be reached at ryan@ryansongalia.com. An archive of his work can be found at www.ryansongalia.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ryansongalia.