I must admit that when it came to budding lightweight prospect Mercito ?No Mercy? Gesta, I was a little late to jump on the bandwagon. I remember vividly seeing my colleagues, first Dennis ‘dSource’ Guillermo and later Michael Marley, giving the Mandaue City, Cebu native some shine but figured I wouldn?t rush things and would let the opportunity present itself to where I had the chance to engage the 23-year old.
And while I am in the Los Angeles area giving my undivided attention to Saturday?s Showtime-televised lightweight title tilt between WBA champion Brandon Rios and former title challenger Urbano Antillon, a sure-fire barnburner in its own right, I was anticipating the chance to catch up with Gesta sometimes this weekend. The man nicknamed ?No Mercy? will be making his debut with his new promoter Top Rank tomorrow night when he squares off with Mexican journeyman Jorge Pimentel in a lightweight bout contracted a few pounds above the 135-pound limit.
<--- Slideshow: Behind the scenes with Mercito 'No Mercy' Gesta on the eve of his bout with Pimentel
As I got to today?s weigh-in at the Holliday Inn a few hours early I caught up with Marley and Comcast Sportsnet and MaxBoxing.com correspondent Ryan Maquinana and was later introduced to Gesta?s trainer and co-manager Vince Parra, who has been with his pupil for roughly four years now. Moments later Gesta would make his entrance and we had a few words about his life and career.
I first asked Gesta about his fanfare on the West Coast, as he has gained a following with several of his recent appearances having gone down in the San Diego, San Francisco, and Las Vegas areas.
?Right now I have a lot of followers in San Diego and I?m thankful and I?ve been blessed. I?m with Top Rank right now and all I need to do is to show them and give them good fights; hopefully someday I can fight for the big time,? said Gesta.
But how much longer can Gesta remain patient? After all his last ten opponents have combined for a 173-96-20 record at the time he fought them and Pimentel certainly isn?t expected to offer up a stiff test in any regard.
?I know it will come soon,? Gesta said calmly. ?Right now we are just waiting for that. We know it will happen because I am with Top Rank right now and I know they can give me that. I?m ready to fight a tough opponent and maybe championship fights after this. I?m ready for that.?
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It will only be natural for Gesta to remain ringside on Saturday and watch the Rios-Antillon fight unfold, as either man could conceivably be his opponent in the future. Asked for his take on the main event, you can sense the fan coming out of Mercito.
?Man, that?s a good fight,? Gesta stated. ?Both are brawlers, both engage, so I think this fight is not going to a decision. There will be a knockout in this fight.?
Slideshow: Brandon Rios ripped and ready for Urbano Antillon
As our talked continued Gesta and I discussed his recent training camps at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles, which included some intense sparring with WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan, who himself is gearing up for a July 23rd date at the Mandalay Bay with Zab Judah. Gesta also touched on the inspiration he took from his countryman and WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and gave his hopes of seeing Nonito Donaire back in the ring sometime soon.
Later in the night I met up with Marley, Maquinana, Gesta and his team at a nearby Filipino joint as the whole crew took down some fine cuisine on the eve of his fight. And the more I got to know Gesta the more I began to appreciate the kid for staying so humble throughout this process and seeming to keep his feet to the ground, something not all pugilists can lay claim to.
Saturday?s fight won?t be televised in America and for some a victory over Pimentel will just serve as a minor footnote to his career. But make no mistake about it, it?s another important step for young Gesta and I, along with several others, will be watching intently.
Want to read more on Mercito Gesta. Please read Guillermo’s ‘Earned respect’: Gesta set for Top Rank debut as well as Marley’s Fueled by Pinoy Food, Gesta faces ‘show time’
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at [email protected]
