Even though he is facing his sternest test on paper this Friday, October 22, unbeaten Filipino lightweight sensation Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (19-0-1, 9 KOs) has another thing on his mind besides the rugged Ivan “Relampago” Valle (28-9-3, 24 KOs), whom he meets in the eight-round main event of spanish language network Telefutura’s “Solo Boxeo Tecate.”
Gesta, who hails from Mandaue City, Philippines, but resides in sunny San Diego, Calif., is dreaming of walking the streets once again of his hometown, which he plans to do by the end of the year, visiting his native country and his family for the first time since he made the big jump stateside.
“It has been almost four years,” Gesta says with a smile when talks turn of his pending return. “I really miss it and that is why I am planning on going back home.”
Despite visions of homemade food and hugs from family and friends, the twenty-three year old WBO Youth lightweight champion Gesta knows there is a task at hand and that is to take one more step towards a world title. With the hard hitting Valle of the Mexican boxing hotbed of Los Mochis, Mex, in his way, he knows that his whole focus needs to be on this Friday night.
“Sometimes I needed to focus a little bit more in training because I was thinking about home,”Gesta stated, suddenly turning serious. “It does go into my mind how much I miss back home but right now I am focused one hundred percent in this fight.”
This Friday’s main event, promoted by Jorge Marron Productions and Don Chargin Promotions in association with Golden Boy Promtions and Bobby D. Presents, is not for the title that the Filipino holds and will mark the second time the southpaw Gesta appears on the weekly “Solo Boxeo Tecate”. The first being earlier this year when he stopped Mexico City’s Genaro Trazancos in seven rounds in Tucson, AZ. Many believed that the quick as lighting Gesta, who was in control for the whole bout, should have ended matters m
