by Neil Macasadia | Aug 16, 2012 | Mercito Gesta Articles |
By Rich Mazon
Photo Credit: Duenas Aris
Source Doc: http://philboxing.com/news/story-74086.html
Filipino boxing fans will possibly be treated to a double delight on November 10, 2012. The date has been highly anticipated by Filipino boxing and general boxing fans worldwide because it is when boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao makes his return to the ring for the second and last time this year.
But it looks like the big November 10th boxing card will also feature another Filipino star.
Undefeated lightweight contender Mercito Gesta is being considered to be featured in that card that is most likely to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 26-0 Gesta who scored an impressive 9th round stoppage of American Ty Barnett in his last outing last August 3 at the Texas Station Casino Resort, also in Las Vegas, is most likely to get his much desired title shot against IBF lightweight champion, Miguel Vasquez (31-3) of Mexico.
Gesta’s manager and trainer, Vincent Parra told Philboxing.com that this fighter Mercito Gesta “wants Vasquez on that card so badly!”
“I’m working on it with Top Rank. I talked to Bob Arum after the Barnett fight and he wants Mercito to fight Vasquez next,” Parra told this writer.
“We are just waiting for Bob to tell us it’s confirmed,” he added.
Parra said that they are already making plans for a vigorous training camp that will most likely take place at Big Bear Lake in California. Big Bear has been a favorite training ground of fighters such as Oscar Dela Hoya and Shane Mosley to name a few because of its seclusion and high altitude. In fact, Mosley is letting Team Gesta use his gym in the popular Californian resort destination if the fight with Vasquez pushes through.
“We are thankful for his (Mosley) support. He gives us good advice,” Parra mentioned.
Mercito Gesta is equally excited as well about the fight. The Mandaue City born fighter admits that this will be his biggest fight and challenge to date.
“Kung sakaling matuloy ito, ang saya ko! Iyun na! Mangyayari na rin yung pinapangarap kong title fight (If this happens, I will be very happy. This is it! My dreams of a title fight will finally take place),” said the 25 year old Gesta.
“I wanted this so bad! I wanted this so bad!” Gesta exclaimed.
“I have been dreaming of this title fight since I was like 15 and now finally it’s here and hopefully in the undercard of that big fight,” Gesta expressed. “I am excited!”
Gesta was once high on the list to fight former Pacquiao foe, Juan Manuel Marquez earlier this year but plans for that fight did not go to fruition. Marquez is one of three candidates being considered to fight Pacquiao on the November 10th main event.
by Neil Macasadia | Aug 6, 2012 | Mercito Gesta Articles
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Photo Credit: Aris Duenas
Article Link –http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=55768#ixzz22nwMBReU
Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta, who kept his undefeated streak going with a dominating performance that ended with a 9th round TKO at 2:59 of the round over American Ty Barnett at the Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas last Saturday, is being given a shot at IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez of Mexico later this year.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard – “I want him (Gesta) to fight Miguel Vazquez as soon as possible. I talked to Vince Parra (his co-manager and trainer) and they are going to get a nutritionist to make sure he can do 135 pounds and if they can I will make that fight in October-November.”
Parra, in a separate interview with BoxingScene/The Standard said – “we are excited at the prospect of fighting Vazquez but there are small issues with the weight but that is something that can be addressed. We know we can make the weight but we want to make sure he is going to make it without a problem.”
Parra admitted that – “it’s been a couple of years since he (Gesta) made the 135 limit officially. He’s grown up since then but we can go out and make some changes in his diet and make sure that he’s going to be a 100% at 135. We don’t want to come in and not make weight and since we finally have this opportunity we don’t want to go in less than a hundred percent.”
The 25 year old Vazquez is 5’10” tall and will enjoy a three inch height advantage over Gesta. The Mexican has a record of 31-3 with 13 knockouts and won the vacant IBF title with a unanimous twelve round decision over Ji Hoon Kim on August 14, 2010.
Before the title shot Vazquez scored a ten round split decision over previously undefeated Colombian Breidis Prescott who is best known for a sensational 1st round knockout of Amir Khan, the one time world light welterweight champion.
In his last fight Vazquez scored a ten round shutout win over Nigeria’s tough 33 year old Daniel Attah.
Parra said – “I like the fight (against Vazquez). He’s the most difficult, awkward guy out there at 135 pounds and has been avoided. He’s long, he’s lanky but doesn’t do anything special but does what he does very well. He keeps you off balance and uses his reach. But we feel confident Mercito can get past that and with some fine tuning and making sure that his nutrition is right and he’s nice and strong we feel confident that we can beat Vazquez either by decision or stoppage.”
by Neil Macasadia | Aug 5, 2012 | Mercito Gesta Articles
By Michael Marley
Photo Credit: Mary Ann Lurie Owen
Doc Source: http://www.examiner.com/article/beyond-pacquiao-donaire-mercito-no-mercy-gesta-shines-under-espn-kleig-lights
LAS VEGAS–Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta stood under the bright lights of ESPN Friday night, by far the biggest platform of his budding professional fight career.
Some boxers fold up like cheap umbrellas in a windstorm when accorded such a great opportunity.
But the 24 year old from Mandaue City, Cebu, in the Philippines did not shrink from this broadcasting bonzana, this chance to show his ring skills to millions of viewers. Instead, showing a maturity belying his age, Gesta embraced it, no make that savored each and every moment during his ninth round stoppage of gamester Ty Barnett.
“I loved it,” Gesta said in his dressing room as future Hall Of Famer Sugar Shane Mosley stopped by with words of wisdom for the rising Pinoy star. “I wanted to dazzle the audience. I hope I did.”
FROM KEVIN DAVIS OF BOXING SOCIALIST:
“If Adrien Broner is looking for a challenge at 135 or 140lb, Mercito Gesta is more than willing to give him that challenge he is searching for. In a great display of speed, power and poise. Gesta destroyed Ty Barnett friday night. After hurting Barnett is the first round, Gesta didn’t go crazy. He kept his cool and took apart Barnett like a skilled veteran. This is the best Gesta I’ve seen to date, and it’s easy to say that he is getting better with each match, as he continues his quest for ring immortality.
“Gesta has called out all the top fighters in the boxing game, Brandon Rios, Juan Marquez, etc. He wants the big fights now, question is will one of these great fighters step in the ring with him to make a mega fight happen. Now raising his record to 26-0 with 14 by way of Knockout, the future is looking bright for the Pinoy.”
The Mosley-Gesta connection runs deep. Co-manager and trainer Vince Parra was a sparring partner for Mosley before one of the Oscar de la Hoya bouts. And Gesta enjoyed some expert tutelage from Shane himself during and after a brief sparring session they had a year or so ago at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym.
How good is Gesta? How much better can he be?
(Before I answer, I warn you that I am pro Gesta all the time as the lightweight contender’s adviser-attorney.)
I say this, Gesta has world championship ability and the proper mindset. He’s cocky but not arrogant and his training camp mixture of Parra and the fighter’s father, Anecito Gesta, is starting to meld and become fully cohesive.
His two trainers and Mercito are having fun while climbing the ladder of success. They all know there’s so much more to do, so much more to learn and to absorb. None of the three pretends to be a fistic know it all.
For my part, it’s a joy being around Gesta and watching how he is translating his basic athletic skills, despite a background as a youthful Muay Thai fighter and having virtually zero amateur boxing experience, into top level combat.
Make no mistake, the cement-chinned Barnett was a bridge fight for Gesta. There remains a gap, a somewhat wide one, between opposition like the Washington, DC, fighter and the guys currently holding world 135 pound title belts.
But Gesta will keep working, keep digging. For his next fight, Parra plans a full-scale training camp up at Big Bear Lake, the familiar training home away from home for Mosley, de la Hoya, Terrible Terry Norris, Robert Garcia and so many other champions over the years.
But, also do not be fooled by niggling criticisms.
Gesta is flexible, versatile and and a young man who knows he’s got mountains to climb, literally and figuratively in his profession.
Gesta showed a bag of tricks in hammering Barnett over nine rounds.
But he did not show all his tricks because he’s still a student.
“I gave Mercito an A minus on this fight,” Parra said. “He could’ve done more bodypunching and not taken a few solid shots. But we don’t expect Mercito to be perfect. He can improvise and his offense is varied. Barnett was a test for us, we know that. But greater tests lie ahead.”
In my view, the best is yet to come for Gesta. Let Pacquiao be the greatest, Gesta is content to be the latest.
If his hat size (ego) remains the same, the sky is the limit for No Mercy.
Meanwhile, there’s no law that says you can’t have fun while also climbing the ladder of success.
by Neil Macasadia | Jul 22, 2012 | Mercito Gesta Articles
By Chris Williams
Photo Credit: Neil Macasadia
Source Doc: http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/07/gesta-ready-for-barnett-on-august/
Unbeaten lightweight/light welterweight contender Mercito Gesta (25-0, 13 KO’s) is ready for his 10 round bout against Ty Barnett (20-2-1, 13 KO’s) on August 3rd on Friday Night Fights at the Texas Station Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada. This will be a great chance for the 24-year-old Gesta to show what he’s got, because the fight will be televised all across the United States.
The southpaw Gesta has to do a much better job than he show in highly controversial 10 round decision over Manuel Perez last September. I saw the fight and I had Perez winning the fight by four rounds, and I thought Gesta looked completely awful.
Gesta is one of those rare fighters that is raked in two divisions. By being ranked in two divisions at the same time, it gives Gesta a better shot at getting a title shot. However, Gesta is a lot better off if he can stay at lightweight because it gives him a better shot at capturing a title.
Gesta’s trainer/co manager Vince Parra said to the Manila Standard “This is a big exposure fight for Mercito and we are going to take advantage of it and he’s coming out guns blazing.”
Gesta absolutely needs to come out fast for this fight, because they’ve picked out a 2nd tier opponent in Barnett, and if he fights slowly like he’s been doing lately, throwing only one punch at a time, Gesta will likely lose to Barnett. Gesta has to try and increase his work rate because he fights like an old man at times, failing to throw enough shots, and that will get him beat against Barnett. Gesta should win this fight but if he looks like he did against Perez, I can see him getting beaten this time around.
by Neil Macasadia | Jul 22, 2012 | Mercito Gesta Articles
By Phil D. Jay (WBN Editor)
Photo Credit: Gerald Labrador
Lightweight contender Mercito Gesta aims to score his 26th career victory on August 3 when the Filipino battles Washington’s Ty Barnett at the Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 24 year-old, who started his career at 110lbs, has steadily built up his reputation and now stands on the cusp of a world title challenge, knowing that he can ill-afford any slips ups at this stage of his career.
“I don’t really know too much about Barnett, I’ve watched some footage but I leave that to Vince (Parra, manager) and my dad,” Gesta told World Boxing News.
“They watch the tapes and we make a plan. I know he doesn’t respect me and that’s enough for me. I’ll be ready come August 3.”
Last time out, Gesta stopped Oscar Cuero in eight rounds to record his 13th career knockout and ‘No Mercy’ is just one or two more victories away from gaining the world title chance he has craved his whole career.
“I would like to win a title at 135, then move up to 140,” said Gesta.
“It’s been hard to get at 135, but If opportunity came at 140 first then I’ll fight a light-welterweight. Right now it’s up to my promoter. I will fight whoever they put in front of me, but the plan has always 135 first, then go for 140.
“I want the best lightweights in the world, Burns, Demarco whoever. There are a lot of good fighters at my weight, but I’m focused on Ty Barnett right now.
“I have always called for the best in my weight and I’ll be ready when they except my challenge.
“I have stopped worrying about when the title shot will come. It’s been close a couple of times, but didn’t work out. Vince has pushed Top Rank to get me a shot, but you can’t force a guy with a title to fight you.
“They say my name is not big enough yet to risk fighting me, so I’m building my name and fan base and it will happen when it happens.”
The Cebu-born southpaw has raised obvious comparisons with former pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao after beginning his career at the flyweight limit and has no problem with being labelled after one of his idols.
“I take it as a compliment,” he explained. “Manny open the door for me and put my country on top of boxing. He’s a legend and I’m just trying to be me, make my own name to make my family and country proud.
“I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all my the fans. I will give you great fights,” added Gesta.
Manager Vince Parra is slowly guiding Gesta to the top of the boxing tree and believes that the early career harships and sacrifices made by the likeable contender have only made him into a better and more rounded fighter.
“We’ve been taking a long road to get to the top without a big name manager or lots of money,” stated Parra.
“Running out of money in camp and cars breaking down, you name it! But we’re still here showing that it can be done with faith and knowledge.”I couldn’t do it myself without the help of my dad (Bumpy Parra) or Mercito’s dad Anecito Gesta and our great team. Here’s to a successful future for Team Gesta.”
by Neil Macasadia | Jul 20, 2012 | Mercito Gesta Articles
By Ryan Songalia
Photo Credit: Ruben Malinao
Source Doc: http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/173955-gesta-tapers-down-training-leading-to-barnett-clash
Lightweight prospect Mercito Gesta (25-0-1, 13 knockouts) has finished the heavy sparring phase of training for his August 3 clash with Ty Barnett (20-2-1, 13 KOs) at the Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., which will headline ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights.
Gesta sparred his last 12 round session on Wednesday in his adopted hometown of San Diego, Calif. with junior middleweight David Barragan (1-0-1, 1 KOs) and welterweight James Taylor (1-0), despite the Barnett fight being only scheduled for ten rounds. Gesta’s manager and trainer Vincent Parra is hoping the extra work in the gym will translate into an increase in stamina after a series of underwhelming performances last year against Manuel Perez and Ricardo Dominguez slowed Gesta’s ascent on top prospect lists.
“It was 100 degrees in the gym and Mercito was still strong in round 12,” said Parra of the 24-year-old Gesta, who was born and raised in Mandaue City in the Philippine province of Cebu. Gesta will continue to spar 10, 8 and 6 round sessions leading up to a week before the fight “to stay sharp”, said Parra.
“His endurance has always been a key thing myself and his father (Anecito Gesta) stressed because there has been times he could have finished guys but didn’t push. Mercito realizes the value of good condition now and it’s starting to show.”
The bout with the 29-year-old Barnett of Washington D.C., will be Gesta’s second of the year, following an eighth-round TKO of Oscar Cuero in April. Gesta’s name had been floated around as a potential opponent for Juan Manuel Marquez and Brandon Rios, but as that talk has evaporated, Gesta’s team says they realize the need to impress with each performance.
“The minute they said (we will face) Ty Barnett, everything else is talk. “This is real and this guy wants Mercito’s spot. Regardless of what the press says we still have to fight.
“I think the opportunity to headline an event like this live on ESPN has got him up,” continued Parra. “Plus Barnett hasn’t shown him much respect. I think you’ll see a motivated Mercito Gesta. It’s not personal but the plan is to destroy this guy. I’m sure they have the same plan. Mercito wants him to trade, if not he’ll walk him down, whatever it takes.”
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