Philippines, 08 Apr 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


ZEPEDA VS. GESTA FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

PhilBoxing.com





COMMERCE, CA (September 14, 2023): As things heat up for Mexican Independence Day, William “El Camarón” Zepeda (28-0, 24 KOs) and Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (34-3-3, 17 KOs) hosted a press conference ahead of their 12-round clash on September 16 for Zepeda's WBA Continental Americas Lightweight Title. The special fight night event will take place at the Commerce Casino & Hotel and will be broadcast live on DAZN. Doors to The Commerce Casino & Hotel open at 3:00 p.m. PT, The Golden Boy Fight Night: Zepeda vs. Gesta Prelims on YouTube and Facebook Watch begin at 3:05 p.m. PT, and the DAZN broadcast will begin at 5:00 p.m. PT/ 8:00 p.m. ET.

The co-main event will feature Vancouver’s Victor “El Tornado” Morales (18-0-1, 9 KOs) who is scheduled to defend his WBA Intercontinental Featherweight Title against Mexico City’s Edwin “Pupo” Palomares (18-4-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round fight. Three-division and five-time world champion Yokasta Valle (28-2, 9 KOs) will make her grand 2023 return to U.S. soil and will defend her IBF and WBO Minimumweight World Championship titles against Maria Santizo (11-3, 6 KOs) of Guatemala City, Guatemala. Houston, Texas’ Darius “DFG” Fulghum (6-0, 6 KOs) will look to continue his knockout streak in an eight-round light heavyweight fight against Mexico City’s Ricardo “Tyson” Luna (25-10-2, 16 KOs).

Opening the DAZN broadcast with eight-rounds of middleweight action, recently signed Eric Priest (10-0, 7 KOs) who represents Wichita Falls, Texas and is now under the tutelage of world championship trainer Ismael Salas, will face off against Danish-born Simon “Vikingo” Madsen (13-1, 10 KOs) who now calls Cancun, Mexico home.

On the The Golden Boy Fight Night: Zepeda vs. Gesta Prelims streamed on YouTube and Facebook Watch, Daniel “Junebug” Garcia (6-0, 5 KOs) of Denver, Colorado will fight Guadalajara, Mexico’s Erick “Aidahoe” Benitez (4-4, 1 KO) in a four-round super featherweight match. In a six-round super lightweight fight, Mexicali, Mexico’s Pinpon Reyes (10-0, 5 KOs) will measure up against Roberto Gomez (5-1, 5 KOs) of Mexico City.

Recently signed to Golden Boy, Mexican Olympian Gael "El Terror" Cabrera (1-0, 1 KO) of Sonora, Mexico will participate in a four-round super bantamweight fight against Managua, Nicaragua's Juan Centeno. Making his pro-debut and opening Mexican Independence Day Weekend festivities, Jordan Cervantes of East Los Angeles will participate in a four-round lightweight fight against El Paso, Texas' Giovanny Meza.

Here is what some of the participants from today's press conference had to say:



WILLIAM ZEPEDA, WBA CONTINENTAL AMERICAS LIGHTWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER:
"I am extremely motivated for this fight. I've always believed that there's no such thing as an A-side or B-side in boxing. To face a grand rival like Mercito Gesta is a great privilege, and I can't wait to demonstrate to everyone of what "El Camarón" is made of."



MERCITO GESTA, LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CONTENDER:
"I am not new in this sport. I will never stop learning. My style always evolves. I am staying in focused with my coach Marvin Somodio. I am so excited to be facing William Zepeda who is undefeated. Zepeda is an up-and-coming fighter. He's great and he excites me. This opportunity is really hard to miss. Now that Oscar and Golden Boy have given it to me - why not? It's a good fight. I want to thank Golden Boy for this opportunity."

VICTOR MORALES, JR., WBA INTERCONTINENTAL TITLEHOLDER:
"I'm blessed to be on another Zepeda card as a co-main event again on the most important weekend for us Mexicans. We're very excited to do what we do. If he [Palomares] wants to bring the pressure, we have a game plan for everything. We can do it from the inside and we can do it from the outside. We're going to go and be victorious one more time."

YOKASTA VALLE, IBF AND WBO MINIMUMWEIGHT CHAMPION:
"Thank you to all the media who came. To Oscar, Eric and all of Golden Boy for this big fight against Maria Santizo. We have prepared 100-percent for this fight to give you guys the show you have all been waiting for and one that is worthy for this special Sept. 16 date. I am so excited for the first bell to ring this coming Saturday."

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS:
"September 16 is a tradition of amazing events for boxing. You go back to Julio Cesar Chavez, Juan Manuel Marquez, and even myself - we have put the September 16 date on the map for the sport of boxing. And now, today, William Zepeda and Mercito Gesta have an opportunity to show the world what fighting is all about."

"For some strange reason, whenever anyone steps inside that ring on Mexican Independence Day, they fight with such passion. They fight with heart, they fight with everything they have because they know what's on the line. Everyone who watches on Saturday can expect great fights from top to bottom."

BERNARD HOPKINS, PARTNER OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS:
"Everybody up here has an opportunity to close out the year, going into 2024. If you believe that the boxing world doesn't have respect on your name, this is your opportunity to get it going into 2024. Everyone do well, be sharp, leave it all in the ring cause the world is watching."

###

Zepeda vs. Gesta is a 12-round fight for the WBA Continental Americas Lightweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The fight is sponsored by Betonline, “BetOnline, Your Online Sportsbook Experts.” The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand.

Tickets for Zepeda vs. Gesta are on-sale today, Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 10:00 am PT and are priced at $150, $100, $75, and $50 plus applicable fees. A limited amount of Golden Boy VIP Experience seats will also be available for purchase with exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades included. Standard and VIP tickets can be purchased at GoldenBoyPromotions.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #ZepedaGesta




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 7 APRIL 2026: Santiago Retains WBA/WBO Titles in Tokyo; Taduran KOs Perez in 5; Price Decisions Aquino; Wins by Wilder, Bentley and Tim Tszyu
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026
  • Carlo Biado is the last Filipino standing in the 2026 Yalin WPA Men's 8-Ball World Championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026
  • Unification next for Taduran?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026
  • BEN WHITTAKER REPLACES INJURED CALLUM SMITH AS THE NEW MAIN EVENT FOR LIVERPOOL FIGHT NIGHT ON APRIL 18 – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Tue, 07 Apr 2026
  • Filipino chess phenom triumphs at Krefelder Osteropen 2026 chess tournament in Germany
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026
  • ProBoxTV Travels to Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, This Friday, April 10, as Hebert Conceicao Sousa Battles Power-Punching South American Johan Gonzalez in Middleweight Main Event
    , Tue, 07 Apr 2026
  • Yokasta Valle vs Lourdes Juarez for WBC Female world championship?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026
  • GM Joey Antonio ties for 10th in Canberra chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026
  • Canelo Expected to Return on September 15 in Riyadh
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026
  • Ring Masters Championships 2026 Finals April 10 at Madison Square Garden
    , Tue, 07 Apr 2026
  • Jeffrey de Luna keep the Philippines alive in the 2026 Yalin WPA Men's 8-ball World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026
  • NOTHING BUT SPORTZ PRESENTS GAMBOA & RIGONDEAUX — MAY 2 IN MIAMI ONE NIGHT. SAME CARD. HAVANA HEAT
    , Mon, 06 Apr 2026
  • Wilkens Mathieu Against Olympic Medallist Esquiva Falcao at the Théâtre Capitole of Quebec City on June 11!
    , Mon, 06 Apr 2026
  • National Master Jasper Faeldonia rules Romblon chessfest
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 06 Apr 2026
  • Twin wins for Pinoy boxers
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026
  • NM Buto spearheads Goldland Chess Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026
  • Andreas Cortes vs Eridson Garcia Tops Paramount Plus Card
    By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026
  • Chris "Sandman" Thomas Back in the Win Column
    , Sun, 05 Apr 2026
  • Taduran Stops Pérez in 7, and “Still” IBF 105 Champion
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • Pedro Taduran Scores Sensational Stoppage Over Gustavo PÉRez ÁLvarez in IBF Minimumweight World Championship Main Event
    , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • BROWN STOPS DUCAR TO LAND FIRST PRO TITLES
    , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • Guy Jutras, a gentleman and pilgrim of world boxing, passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • GM Joey Antonio keeps Philippine flag alive, posts hard-earned win in Canberra chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • TWO WORLD TITLE FIGHTS CONFIRMED FOR ‘GLORY IN GIZA’ UNDERCARD
    , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • MANSOUR AND BALLO MAKE WAVES WITH UNPRECEDENTED OPEN WORKOUT ABOARD CITY CRUISES ADMIRAL HORNBLOWER AHEAD OF SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS
    , Sat, 04 Apr 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.