By Ryan Burton

Mercito Gesta has been a professional fighter for over 9 years.  On December 8th he will get his first crack at a title when he faces IBF lightweight champion  Miguel Vazquez in the co-feature fight underneath the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez IV pay-per-view clash.  The Filipino is relishing the opportunity that awaits him.  I asked him about finally getting a title shot after one of his recent training sessions.

"It is finally coming.  I am excited.  I am happy.  I am trying to stay focused on the fight.  I am finally getting the title fight that I have wanted for so long," explained Gesta.

"I am at a stage right now where I am training hard and I just need to sacrifice.  This is a big fight.  Especially since it is on the undercard of Manny's fight.  There will be a lot of people watching.  I know I have to be at my best since this is on the undercard of Pacquiao-Marquez.  That is why I am trying to stay focused," he continued.

Gesta is as equally motivated at being on such a high profile card as he is for fighting for his first world title.  He knows that a lot of opportunities will open up by winning a title on such a big stage.

"It is like a dream man.  For a long time I waited for this and finally it his here.  Not just the title (shot) but like I said it is a big fight being on the undercard of Manny's fight against Marquez," Gesta stated.

While Gesta is pulling for his countryman to get the victory over Marquez, he admits that all of the fights have been close and that it is hard to pick a winner in the upcoming fourth installment of their rivalry.  He hopes that the latest edition will provide a definite winner.

"I don't even know (who will win).  This is their fourth fight, right? It is so close.  All the fights had controversy.  Hopefully this fight will prove who the real winner is without any doubt," Gesta told Boxingscene.com.

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