TORRANCE, CALIF.–Having satiated his post weigh-in hunger pangs with a tray load of Pinoy food favorites at the down home, nearby the hotel ?Teta Celia? (Aunt Celia) Restaurant, a relaxed but ready to rumble Mercito ?No Mercy? Gesta was just counting down the hours and minutes to combat Friday night.
The undefeated lightweight from Cebu, now residing in San Diego, makes his Top Rank promotional debut in a featured fight on the international telecast (ABS-CBN in the Philippines) at the Home Depot Center Saturday night against tall Mexcian journeyman Jorge ?El Tigre? Pimentel.
The scheduled eight-rounder will go off before the two featured bouts on the Showtime telecast across America, the night’s final bout being what shapes up as a crackerjack WBA lightweight title war between champ Brandon ?Bam Bam? Rios of Oxnard and two time world title try bridesmaid Ubrano Antillo.
The verbal exchanges, including some X-rated phrases, were part of the weigh-in, particularly when the hotheaded Rios and the angry Antillon went face to face in the familiar fighter posedown.
By contrast with the two agitated 135 pounders, Gesta (137 pounds) and rival Pimentel (138.2) were the picture of calm and tranqility in their weigh-in pose as seen herein. Pimental, age 31 and hailing from Guayamas, Sonora, owns a somewhat deceiving 23-11, 17 knockouts record. You have to look deep into his line by line record to discover that, before losing his last two bouts, Pimentel was riding a nine bout winning streak.
For his part, former Muay Thai boxer and owner of a 23-0-1, 11 knockouts pro record, Gesta said he was ready to shine in his first effort under Bob Arum’s umbrella.
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?I need to make a big impression and I know I can do it,? Gesta, who turns age 24 in October, said. ?I have a good spotlight for my talent here and my whole family and all my friends back home in Lagobon, Mandaue City, Cebu are planning to watch me on Sunday just before noontime.?
Gesta, who is currently ranked No. 2 in the world by the WBO and holds the WBO Youth title, feels that he is just a few bouts away from being ready to be completely unharnessed. The hard-hitting southpaw is quietly confident that he can hold his own with champ Rios, top contender Antillon or any other tough customer in his weight class.
?I did pretty well sparring with Amir Khan over at the Wild Card Gym recently and that just made me realize that I more than belong in the top echelon. I do not brag or boast because I want to be like my idol Manny Pacquiao and make my point inside the boxing ring.?
Like Pinoy Idol Pacman, Gesta is an ultra aggressive southpaw. But, besides his brawling skills, Gesta is also a smooth boxer.
Gesta brings a lot to the table, not just sissig, chicken adobo or balut.
But, right now even though he’s not on the Showtime program, it certainly is show time for the young Pinoy prospect.
(Disclosure: Michael Marley has represented Team Gesta on legal matters.)
