Philippines, 09 Dec 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PROMISING MERCITO GESTA SHOULD MAKE SHORT WORK OF FAVILA


PhilBoxing.com




Promising Filipino southpaw Mercito Gesta, a lightweight with loads of punching power and style, should make short work of Cristian Favela in a rematch at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in San Diego, California.

Gesta who is undefeated with a record of 16-0-1 with 7 knockouts, won a unanimous eight round decision over Favela in Tucson, Arizona on Novemner 7, 2008 and has since gone on a knockout spree including a 1st round TKO over touted Alain Hernandez at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego followed by 3rd round TKO over Devarise Crayton at the same venue on July 10, 2009.

Favela has had a run of seven straight losses, all by unanimous decisions, and the 30 year old shouldn’t prove to be a problem for Gesta who belonged to the Stonewall Boxing Club of American Terry Carter and partner Joy Ouano in Liloan Cebu.

Gesta was signed up by Michael Koncz, Manny Pacquiao’s adviser, and brought to the US where Koncz arranged some fights for him.

Favela also dropped a unanimous eight round decision to Filipino southpaw Czar Amonsot at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on February 2, 2006 before he went on a losing streak.

In his US debut Gesta scored a six round majority decision over Carlos Madrid at the AllState Arena in Rosemont, Illinois on August 4, 2007 before he registered a fourth round TKO victory over Carlos Vinan at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on October 4, 2007.

Koncz said that Gesta had three fights under him and “since they were small fights we didn’t take any percentage from the fighter at all.” Koncz said he told Gesta if he was unhappy in Los Angeles he could go “because I don’t want a boxer who is unhappy although I could always enforce my contract” which is apparently good for another year.

Kevin Riley of BleacherReport.com told us that when Gesta's long-time trainer Carl Penalosa decided to set up shop in a San Diego, Calif., gym back in 2007, Gesta joined the trainer he has known since he was 15-year-old kid back in Cebu. Riley said that San Diego has been a much better fit for Gesta and he is now signed up with Hall of Fame promoter Don Chargin.

Riley quoted Gesta as telling him in a telephone conversation that he likes San Diego way better than Los Angeles mentioning that he liked “the climate, the beaches, and also it's quiet. It's not crazy like Los Angeles."

We ourselves watched the video of Gesta celebratinh his 0:44 second KO of Alain Hernandez last May with a victory dance across the stage and as Riley reports the already electrified crowd at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, Calif., was sent into a frenzy upon witnessing "No Mercy" stomp across the ring in triumph.”

Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach who told us some months ago that Gesta was a talented kid told Riley that he has “a lot of potential. He is one of the best Philippine prospects. I really feel that.”

When we asked Carl Penalosa recently in Las Vegas about Gesta he said the young prospect was coming along nicely. However, Koncz said when he was in LA Gesta was “lazy and was on the Internet and talking to the girls and not training. Maybe he’s found a girl in San Diego and settled down.”


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Petecio, Bautista, 4 others see action in SEAG on Dec. 10
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 09 Dec 2025
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Super Welterweight Yoenis Tellez Ready for Redemption Bout vs. Kendo Castaneda on December 13
    , Tue, 09 Dec 2025
  • Hot prospect Marco Romero Prepared to close 2025 in style
    , Tue, 09 Dec 2025
  • PH favored in SEA Games triathlon
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 09 Dec 2025
  • Tamayo settles to a draw in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 08 Dec 2025
  • Apolinar fails in WBO Asia Pacific title bid
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 08 Dec 2025
  • Biendima loses by UD
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 08 Dec 2025
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 6: 1932 OLYMPICS AT LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 08 Dec 2025
  • MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS MASOUD BEATS McGRAIL
    , Sun, 07 Dec 2025
  • Pitbull Cruz and Lamont Roach Battle to Controversial Majority Draw in High-Intensity Title Clash
    , Sun, 07 Dec 2025
  • Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and Ju-jitsu in Thailand SEA Games
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 06 Dec 2025
  • Mapua, IIEE Singapore and IM Concio wins the 7th IIEE ANC Cup co-awarded by GM Torre
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 06 Dec 2025
  • Pontinos to see action in PH Jetski in SEA Games
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 06 Dec 2025
  • Pitbull vs. Roach Jr & Co-Headliner Foster vs. Fulton Make for Solid PPV
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 06 Dec 2025
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 06 Dec 2025
  • MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED WITH MASOUD AND McGRAIL SET TO BATTLE
    , Sat, 06 Dec 2025
  • Herlan Gomez, Jason Moloney Make Weight for WBC Australasia Bantamweight Battle in Australia
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 5: 1928 OLYMPICS AT AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • Class of 2026 Announced in Canastota
    , Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on Tuesday, January 13th at The UFC Gym North Brunswick in North Brunswick, NJ
    , Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • Severino and Mendoza win Blitz Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • Herlan Gomez Departs for Australia for Moloney Fight Saturday on DAZN
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 04 Dec 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.