By: Dennis 'dSource' Guillermo
When he left his hometown of Mandaue in Cebu, Philippines, back in 2006 as part of a contingent of boxing prospects brought to LA by Manny Pacquiao's advisor Michael Koncz in behalf of MP Promotions, 23-year-old undefeated lightweight boxer Mercito 'No Mercy' Gesta (21-0-1, 11KOs) wasn't quite sure what would become of the opportunity, and risk, that he had just taken.
Last time I checked, no Filipino not named Manny Pacquiao has been able to truly crossover in the United States and carve a successful career in boxing. While his counterparts like Bernabe Concepcion, Marvin Sonsona and Rey Bautista attained some success only to falter not too long after, Gesta lurked on the outside as a relatively unknown talent toiling in small boxing cards in a city known more for its beautiful weather than its boxing scene.
Not too long after hitting US shores in LA, Gesta moved to San Diego with his trainer Carl Penalosa, taking the road less traveled and parting ways with MP Promotions. See Gesta is the type that would rather keep to himself. His father Anecito is a serious man who values discipline; the same man that guided him into martial arts like Muay Thai and ultimately into boxing, and raised him to not be any different. So the young Mercito, yet again took another gamble, opting to walk away from the promises and the entourages in LA, for the more tranquil confines of San Diego together with his trusted mentor, where he worked on his boxing and fought his way up from anonymity, into building a cult-like following amongst the Filipino community.
"He's a natural born fighter," said Vince Parra, whom Gesta met in San Diego and has since become one of his closest confidantes and serves as his co-trainer and co-manager. "He's fun to watch man, and it doesn't matter who he works with. He just picks up everything and keeps getting better each time," he added. Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who has opened his doors to Gesta and has been helping him in his last couple of camps went further and said, "I've always liked [Gesta]. He has a lot of potential. He's one of the best Philippine prospects, I definitely feel that."
After four years of paying his dues, and as his fellow Filipino prospects came and went, Gesta finally got the break he had been working hard for last June when he signed a four-year promotional contract with Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions, the same company that promotes Pacquiao, under terms that were better than any offer on the table. Most impressive is the fact that he did it under his own provisions.
Gesta takes the first step in the next chapter of his career when he debuts under Top Rank on Sunday, Manila time, against the hard-punching Jorge 'El Tigre' Pimentel (21-0-1, 11KOs) of Mexico in the undercard of the lightweight WBA championship clash between Brandon 'Bam Bam' Rios and Urbano Antillon at the Home Depot Center in LA. “I'm anxious and excited to fight. I want to do well so I can convince people and my new promoter that I am ready to fight the best,” Gesta told me after weighing-in for his fight which will be fought at a contracted weight of 138.
By no stretch of the imagination is Pimentel supposed to give Gesta much trouble. Truth be told, Gesta's team expects to take their opponent out early, after his impressive training sessions at the Wild Card Gym and more than holding his own in sparring against junior welterweight World Champion Amir Khan. “He [Pimentel] has good punch, but in terms of what he brings to the table, speed and skills, it's nothing we haven't seen before. Mercito should be able to knock this guy out in two rounds,” Parra told me.
Gesta will definitely have a good look at two of the best go at it in the main event, when Rios and Antillon go about their business in trying to take each other's head off. His presence in the card is definitely no coincidence. Gesta had issued a challenge to Rios in the past and is salivating for chance to be next in line to fight the winner. And if he continues his electrifying performances knocking opponents out right and left, he might not have to wait as long as he did to get that chance, as he did to get his first major promotional break.
Gesta has all the tools to go far, even in the heavily-stacked lightweight division. His hand speed, counter punching and punching power coming from his southpaw stance, make him a difficult and dangerous opponent for anyone at the 135 weight class. His ferocious style and killer instinct promises excitement in every outing. And although critics might say that he needs a few more fights and a little bit more seasoning, Gesta together with his team, are confident that he is ready for a title shot as early as his next fight. Not naïve to the business side of boxing promotions, however, Gesta would settle for a consistent step up in competition.
“I'll fight whoever they want me to fight, but I hope I can get a title fight soon, or that they would let me fight the best,” Gesta declared, “how will they know if I'm ready, if they won't let me fight the best?” he added.
Dennis 'dSource' Guillermo is a prolific boxing writer. For an archive of his work click here. You can reach him at DennisGuillermo2@yahoo.com
