WITH his father by his side, Cebuano WBO NABO Youth Lightweight champion Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta is oozing with confidence going into his April 14 bout against Colombian Oscar Cuero at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Anecito Gesta, Mercito’s father, is also with the promising boxer in San Diego California to also serve as his trainer and mentor alongside chief trainer Vince Parra.
Gesta, who is undefeated in 24 bouts (with 12 knockouts), is eyeing for no less than a knockout victory against Cuero, who sports a record of 15 wins and seven losses with 12KOs.
Gesta and Cuero’s bout will serve as the undercard for the WBA lightweight championship bout between Mexican Brandon “Bam-Bam” Rios and Richard Abril.
Tagged as the “Mexicutioner” by Top Rank big boss Bob Arum after defeating easily his Mexican opponents, Gesta is the number one boxer in the list of possible opponents of Mexican three-division world champion Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez this July.
“Nindot kaayo ang training ni Mercito diri sa San Diego. Ready na siya ni Cuero. Labi na ni Marquez kung mahinayon among pagkigsangka niya,” said Anecito in an email sent to Cebu Daily News.
If Mercito will win against Cuero, the elder Gesta said they will pursue the Marquez fight.
Mercito’s last bout was in November 2011, which he won over Ricardo Dominguez of Mexico via unanimous decision. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL