Mercito Gesta Stays Undefeated, Knocks Crayton Out
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Undefeated Filipino southpaw Mercito Gesta as expected scored an easy third round TKO over over-matched Devarious Crayton of Florida in the main event of Rogue Boxing Promotions fight card at the beautiful Woodstock Terrace of the Hard Rock Hotel in downtown San Diego.
Gesta went after Crayton from the opening bell and connected with some solid body shots against the taller southpaw who however connected with a few jabs in an effort to keep Gesta at bay.
Gesta who is trained by the elder brother of former two-division world champions Dodie Boy and Gerry Penalosa caught Crayton with a hard right hook towards the end of the opening round that clearly hurt the Florida fighter who was a late replacement for veteran Damian Fuller who pulled out because of an injury suffered in training camp.
Gesta continued to keep the pressure on Crayton who tried desperately to stay out of trouble but the Filipino who formerly fought out of the Stonewall Boxing Gym of American Terry Carter in Liloan, Cebu eventually pinned him against the ropes in the dying seconds of round two and closed out the round with a big right hook.
Crayton appeared to be feeling the punches of Gesta while also beginning to fade and Gesta, sensing he had his opponent for the taking the promising young Filipino fighter nailed him with a series of unanswered punches before referee
Jose Cobian stepped in and called a halt at 1:13 of the third round.
With the win Gesta’s record improved to 16-0-1 with 7 knockouts while Crayton dropped to 9-6-2 with 2 knockouts.
In the fight card titled “Havic at the Hard Rock II: No Mercy” Gesta and trainer Penalosa were disappointed that the veteran Fuller who had a solid record of 30-6-1 with 14 knockouts had to pull out because of a shoulder injury. Fuller was expected to provide a tough test for Gesta.
Although Crayton was coming off a confidence-boosting 3rd round knockout over Michael Mendez of Puerto Rico he proved no match for the hard-hitting Gesta who Penalosa believes will be ready to take on the best in his division after two or three more fights.
In his last fight Gesta scored a spectacular 1st round TKO over Mexico’s Alain “Konan” Hernandez, TNijuana’s 2008 “Prospect of the Year.” Referee Pat Russell stopped the fight after Gesta trapped Hernandez against the ropes and nailed him with a flurry of answered punches at :44 seconds of the very first round.