By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Well known boxing manager and promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud yesterday confirmed that undefeated Mercito Gesta’s WBC International featherweight title fight against Jeffrey Mathebula was called off after  the Filipino boxer failed the official medical test Tuesday because he tested positive for hepatitis.

In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today from Johannesburg, Salud said Gesta had “ a very big chance of winning the title” and he felt sorry for the young fighter who was clearly upset.  Earlier, Gesta’s manager Terry Carter said  “we don’t know for sure what the problem was but we understand it may be hepatitis B.”

Initial reports from South Africa said Gesta had been given a clean bill of health in a pre-medical on Monday but failed to pass the official medical test the following day.

Carter said Gesta had been cleared by the GAB medical division in Cebu City last January 17 and was allowed to leave for the title fight to be held at the Wembley Arena on a card promoted by well-known South African promoter Branco Milenkovic.

Milenkovic informed Mauro Betti of the WBC that “it is unfortunate but the South African Medical Commission protects the welfare of the boxers.”

Carter said  he was prepared to “spend the money needed to have him (Gesta) cured” because he believes the young featherweight “can win something big and is worth spending money on.”

Carter noted that in the past reigning OPBF bantamweight champion Malcolm Tunacao also had a hepatitis problem and there were even attempts to claim that Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao allegedly had hepatitis. Carter said it may be a tactic to stop the fight because of fears that Gesta was too good for Mathebula.

A South African website earlier reported that Milenkovic was worried about the threat posed by Gesta and two other Filipino boxers Benedict Suico and Gabriel Pumar who were matched against Branco Sports Production’s WBC International flyweight champion Mhikiza Myekeni and WBC International mini flyweight champion Tshepo Lefele and decided to enter into a promotional agreement with the managers of the Filipino fighters in case they win. Milenkovic said “yes I will promote the WBC International title defenses if they win.