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Philippines, 12 Feb 2026 |
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UNDEFEATED GESTA HEADS A FIGHT CARD THIS THURSDAY IN SAN DIEGO By Granville Ampong PhilBoxing.com Mon, 22 Feb 2010  Special for Philboxing.com from SAN DIEGO, California - Mercito Gesta, 22, a talented and a fast-punching southpaw from Mandaue, Cebu, Philippines, is ready to headline in the lightweight division against Cristian Favela (17 wins, 24 losses, 6 draws) of Sinaloa, Mexico at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in San Diego, California, this Thursday, February 25. In an exclusive interview via telephone a few moments ago as per courtesy call to this writer, Felipe Leon, the Public Relations agent of Mercito Gesta, says Favela whom Gesta won over by unanimous decision in 2008 will have to replace Jaime Orrantia (12 wins, 26 losses, 5 draws), who was supposed to be the opponent of the Cebuano fighter. Leon says the California Athletic Commission disapproves Orrantia's fight against Gesta for unknown reason and switches Orrantia instead to fight Antonio Orozco whose professional record seals 5 wins and zero defeat. On the other hand, Favela, whose last seven fights exhibit series of losses - all by unanimous decisions, is seen as a better fighter against Gesta, as a matter of rematch, according to Leon. On one hand, Leon believes Favela is a stronger opponent than Orrantia, in that Favela was never knocked out in his last seven fights and is seen as more experienced than the latter. However, Leon believes that his team expects a win by knockout this time over Favela, a rugged La Raza who is now residing in Los Angeles, California. Gesta, bearing a record of 16 wins, 0 defeat and 1 draw and whose last two fights last year at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego California ended by stunning knockouts in rounds 1 and 3 respectively, has made him a hot prospect for a title shot in a few years to come, says his promotional manager, Vincent Parra, who sets up boxing matches with Rogue Boxing Promotions. In another exclusive interview via telephone as per courtesy call to this writer, Gesta says, "This is just a small boxing event. But, this is very important for me, for my family and for my fans, especially for my countrymen." Gesta is formerly with the Stonewall Boxing Gym of American Terry Carter and of the latter's business partner, Joy Ouano of Liloan, Cebu. Gesta now lives in San Diego and is trained by Carl Penalosa, the elder brother of former two-division world champion, Gerry Penalosa. Meanwhile, ending his almost six months of lay-off, Gesta is never short of inspiration. His thoughts put his focus as one of emulation: Manny Pacquiao's uncommon self-discipline in matters of training for a boxing match. Gesta says Pacquiao is his "boxing idol", whom he claims has given him the motivation to enter into the ring of madness. "Pacquiao seems to be a tireless machine," says Gesta as he takes notice of his idol's rare discipline. "He has tremendous stamina," he further says of Pacquiao whom he thinks has a great footwork which is so complex that makes the said boxing superstar even more unpredictable against any opponent. "Pacquiao's hand-speed is devastating and works very well with his footwork," says Gesta who has seen Pacquiao's closed-door sparring sessions in recent weeks at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. "And it will be very difficult for Joshua Clottey, whom Pacquiao will fight this March 13 at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium, to pin down Pacquiao." "Pacquiao is simply a gifted and a well-discipline fighter and I am learning a lot from his techniques and self-discipline," he adds. Note: Granville Ampong, an award-winning speechwriter and a broadsheet columnist for California Examiner, Nevada Examiner and Manila-US Times, is chosen again as the lead/primary writer, along with Dr. Ed de la Vega, a dental-surgeon-turned prolific writer and photo-journalist, for the Pacquiao vs. Clottey, dubbed "The Event", at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, this March 13, 2010. You may send your comment(s) to granvilleampong@aol.com. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Granville Ampong.  |
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