Penalosa Predicts That Gesta is Title Bound in 2 To 3
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Filipino lightweight prospect Mercito Gesta who has a record of 15-0-1 with 6 knockouts will be ready to for a title shot after two or three more fights.
That’s the assessment of Gesta’s trainer Carl Penalosa, the eldest of the Penalosa brothers who include former two-division world champions Gerry and Dodie Boy Penalosa and Jonathan Penalosa who is currently in the training camp of Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire.
Gesta, the hard-hitting southpaw who is originally from the Stonewall Boxing Gym of American Terry Carter in Liloan, Cebu was hoping to get a real test by fighting the rugged Damian Fuller (30-6-1, 14 KO’s) at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego this Sunday, Manila Time.
Unfortunately Fuller suffered a shoulder injury in training and Rogue Boxing Promotions had to bring in Devarious Crayton (9-5-2, 2 KO’s) as a replacement.
Although he is not as experienced as Fuller and his record is not as impressive as Fuller’s, the southpaw from Orlando, Florida is coming off a confidence-boosting 3rd round knockout over Puerto Rican Michael Mendez and may cause a few problems for Gesta.
However, Penalosa said Gesta who trains at the Alliance gym in San Diego was in “great shape and well prepared.”
He described Gesta as a “strong puncher with quick hands” and in addition had "a good attitude and was a good young man.” Gesta was disappointed that Fuller was injured because he had a good record and would have been a real test for Gesta.
The undefeated Filipino is coming off a spectacular 1st round TKO victory ober Mexico ’s fancied Alain “Konan” Hernandez, Tijuana ’s “Prospect of the Year” for 2008.
Gesta trapped Hernandez against the ropes and threw a flurry of unanswered punches forcing referee Pat Russell to call a halt at :44 seconds of the opening round. Also seeing action on what promises to be an exciting fight card will be the “San Diego Sensation” Sergio Espinoza (16-5-1, 5 KO’s) who is striving to once again break into the world rankings.
