TWO Cebuano warriors are facing the biggest test of their young boxing careers in title fights in different countries today.
Rocky Fuentes is defending his Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation flyweight title for the first time against world-rated Japanese fighter Shigetaka Ikehara at the Karakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
On the other side of the globe, lightweight prospect Mercito ?No Mercy? Gesta takes on hard-hitting Mexican Oscar ?Estudiante? Meza for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) North American Boxing Organization, Youth lightweight crown in Tampa, Florida.
Fuentes, 24, is on a five-fight winning streak since his unanimous decision loss to Richie Mepranum in 2007.
He won his OPBF title by a majority decision over former title-holder Masa-fumi Okubo last March 9.
Fuentes?s opponent, Ikehara, has never been beaten since 2007.
The 28-year-old Ikeha-ra is ranked 16th in the World Boxing Council (WBC), 13th in the World Boxing Association and 11th in the WBO.
Fuentes,of Mambaling, Cebu, has a record of 25-6-2 with 15 knockouts, while Ikehara is 20-1-2 with 16 knockouts.
This fight will be Fuentes?s key to a future world title fight because a victory could improve his ratings in the WBC, where he is at No. 9.
Former kick-boxer
Meanwhile, the undefeated Gesta is slowly making waves in the lightweight division.
The 22-year-old former kick-boxer has been impressive in his campaign in the US since 2007, knocking out his foes in four out of his seven bouts.
Gesta won his rematch against veteran journeyman Cristian Favela by unanimous decision last Feb. 25.
Like Gesta, his opponent Meza, 23, is also an up-and-coming prospect. He packs a punch with a 77 percent knockout percentage. He has fought the likes of fellow talented fighters Brandon Rios and Jorge Paez Jr.
Gesta has a clean slate of 17-0-1 with seven knockouts while Meza is 19-3 with 17 knockouts.
