Gesta too crafty for American foe Perez

Undefeated lightweight Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta won a comfortable 10-round unanimous decision over Manuel Perez at the Blue Water Resort & Casino in Parker, Arizona Saturday.

The win put Gesta in line for an appearance on the main event of a Top Rank promotion at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino on Nov. 11, the eve of pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao’s eagerly awaited third fight with Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez.

Ranked No. 2 by the WBO and No. 9 by the WBA , Gesta improved his record to 23-0-1 with 12 knockouts in a determined bid to gain a title shot at WBA champion Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios.

Gesta stalked Perez throughout the fight but was not able to nail his American opponent with a really clean shot.

All three judges had Gesta, a southpaw, comfortably ahead with two judges scoring it 98-92 and the third,  99-91.

Gesta’s trainer and co-manager Vince Parra said “Mercito needed the good workout” even as he stressed that Perez “has a hard head.”

With the loss the 27-year-old Perez dropped to 16-7-1 with 4 knockouts.

Arum told the Inquirer he was pleased that Gesta “boxed well and put on a good show.”