Mercito Gesta looks to bounce back vs undefeated Tanajara

FILE — Jorge Linares (L) of Venezuela throws a left hand at Mercito Gesta during their bout at The Forum on January 27, 2018 in Inglewood, California. Jeff Gross/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines—Mercito Gesta, a former World title contender, gets a chance to get back in the win column after a disappointing 2019.

Golden Boy Promotions announced on Wednesday that Gesta will face Hector Tanajara on July 24 in a lightweight bout at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California.

Gesta and Tanajara will be the co-main event in the Vergil Ortiz-Samuel Vargas card that will be broadcasted live on DAZN.

“I am so excited to fight on July 24 against a talented, young, and very technical boxer in Hector Tanajara Jr.,” said Gesta in a statement.

Gesta had an interesting regimen in the lead up to the fight as he was virtually conditioning training with his team in San Diego while he stayed in Los Angeles with trainer Marvin Somodio getting his rounds at Wild Card Gym due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the biggest fight of his career, Gesta lost via unanimous decision to t Jorge Linares for the WBA World and WBC Diamond lightweight title

He followed it up with a win against Robert Manzanarez via majority decision, but got knocked out by Juan Antonio Rodriguez and settled for  draw with Carlos Morales in his final fight of 2019.

Tanajara (19-0, five knockouts), who hasn’t lost a bout in his professional career, is putting his WBC United States lightweight title on the line.

“I’m ready for the best of the division,” said Tanajara. “I want to be a World champion, and the only way to do that is to beat tough fighters like Merit Gesta who has challenged for a World title and is a southpaw with a lot of experience.”

Standing at 5-foot-10, Tanajara is three inches taller than Gesta and has a seven-inch advantage in reach at 75, but the Filipino boxer is unfazed.

“Even though the fight will be different this time because there will be no audience, friends, or family, I’m well prepared and will put on a great show against Tanajara Jr.,” said Gesta.