Gesta fights Mexican rival Sunday

MANILA—Filipino prospect Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta makes his debut under Top Rank when he tangles with Mexican Jorge Pimentel in the undercard of the Brandon Rios-Urbano Antillon showdown at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, Sunday (July 10).

Top Rank chief honcho Bob Arum said he had included Gesta’s fight on the international telecast and will be beamed to the Philippines on ABS-CBN “so the Filipino people can see him in action.”

The fight card will be telecast on Studio 23 at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday after the PBA games.

The San Diego City-based Gesta has a record of 21-0-1 with 11 knockouts and is coming off a dominating win over Mexican Genaro Trazancos, who retired in the third round of a rematch last Feb. 18 on orders of the ring physician. In their first meeting Gesta won by a 7th round knockout.

Gesta is the reigning WBO North American Boxing Organization lightweight champion having won the title when Mexican Oscar Meza retired in the 4th round on June 4, 2010.

Gesta’s co-manager and trainer Vince Parra told the Inquirer in an overseas telephone conversation that Gesta, who weighed in at 137 pounds, compared to Pimentel’s 138.25 lb, “is in great shape and the most motivated I’ve seen him.”

Parra said a high point of Gesta’s three weeks training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym was sparring with WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan three times a week.