Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta of Labogon, Mandaue City is less than two weeks away from his big moment under the spotlight when he gets to challenge IBF lightweight champion Miguel “Titere” Vazquez of Mexico on the undercard of the fourth fight between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and his Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on December 9 (December 9 Philippine Time).
Gesta has been training at the high altitude training camp of Big Bear, California for a month now. This training facility is 7,000 feet above sea level and was the favorite training ground of legends like Oscar dela Hoya and Shane Mosley.
Gesta is being trained by Vince Parra with the assistance of Gesta’s father Anecito. His brother, Anecito Jr otherwise known as Dondon and their mother, Mercedes are also in the U.S. to assist the Cebuano southpaw as he nears his coveted title shot.
Dondon fought last year in GMA’s Buhay Boksingero but lost before the semi-finals.
The 25 year-old Gesta (26W-0L-1D, 14 KOs) remained unbeaten when he stopped American Ty Barnett last August in nine rounds at the Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas.
The 25 year-old Vasquez (32W-3L, 13 KOs) defended his title for the fourth time last October 27 by split twelve round decision over fellow Mexican Marvin Quintero in New York. He won the title in August 14, 2010 by beating South Korean Ji-Hoon Kim by unanimous decision.
The Mexican champion enjoys at least a three inch height advantage over Gesta. Vasquez has lost only to quality fighters Saul Alvarez (twice) and Timothy Bradley who are now also world champions.