Gesta ready to slug it out with Colombian foe

MERCITO “No Mercy” Gesta of Labogon, Mandaue City will face Oscar Cuero of Colombia on April 14 (April 15 Philippine Time) at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The 26-year-old Cuero (15W-7L, 12 KOs) lost in all of his five appearances in the United States which included a unanimous decision loss to Emmanuel Lucero last year. Lucero is known for his third round knockout loss to Manny Pacquiao in an IBF superbantamweight title fight way back in 2003.

Cuero however, has stopped his last two opponents — Alex Barrios and Luis Hernan Rodriguez – in fights held in his home country.

Last November, the unbeaten Gesta (24W-0L-1D, 12 KOs) beat Ricardo Dominguez of Mexico by unanimous decision also in Las Vegas. The 24-year-old Cebuano southpaw has been rumored to be a possible future opponent of Juan Manuel Marquez.

Marquez is scheduled to fight Serhiy Fedchenko of the Ukraine on the same date in Mexico.

Gesta vs. Cuero will be on the undercard of the WBA lightweight title bout between Brandon Rios and Richard Abril.  /Correspondent Rene Bonsubre Jr.