A little bit lost amidst the controversy surrounding last night’s split-decision victory by Brandon Rios over Richard Abril was the continued progression of unbeaten Filipino Mercito Gesta.
Facing off with Oscar Cuero inside of the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Gesta, a budding lightweight contender, was patient and calculated as he broke down his Columbian foe for an 8th round TKO.
Speaking in his dressing room moments after the fight, Gesta admitted that Cuero was a bit of a mystery to him prior to the fight.
?I feel good for the performance,? said Gesta, who registered knockdowns in round seven and eight. ?It?s a late opponent and I only saw one of his fights. In the early rounds I couldn?t find my timing, so later on I felt I got it and I knocked the guy out.?
After the post-fight press conference for last night?s event wrapped up, I again found myself pressing Gesta for answers, this time focusing on Rios? sluggish victory over Abril. Advertisement
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Exclusive photos: An inside look at the victories of Brandon Rios, Mike Alvarado, and Mercito Gesta plus bonus shots
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Rios? fights usually are typified by all-out action but Abril played his part in killing whatever suspense was in air by constantly moving and sometimes clinching to lull the action. It certainly didn?t make for great theater in the eyes of Gesta.
?Abril, he kind of ran and held and Rios, I don?t think it was a good fight for him,? Gesta said modestly. ?I don?t know if it?s because he?s drained, but that night was not his night. I think he?s a little bit better than that. Maybe he was cutting weight, I don?t know. But that fight was not that good.?
A few months back word spread that Gesta was being considered as a July 14th opponent for the great Juan Manuel Marquez, who scored a commanding twelve-round decision over Sergey Fedchenko down in Mexico City tonight to capture the WBO interim junior welterweight title.
The talks eventually turned to Rios being Marquez?s dance partner come this summer but given Brandon?s showing against Abril tonight, Gesta has a feeling that his name will be back in the mix.
?Maybe, because people always watch your last fight and have something to say. I think maybe now I have a better chance to fight Marquez,? Gesta stated.
