Gesta released by Top Rank

CEBU, Philippines - Former Cebuano lightweight contender Mercito ‘No Mercy’ Gesta has been dropped by his promotional company, Top Rank Boxing.

In a report from  Philboxing.com, Gesta’s former trainer and manager Vince Parra confirmed that the 25-year-old boxer was released by Top Rank Inc. of Hall-of-Famer promoter Bob Arum.

“(It is) Unfortunate, but I can't blame them, they treated Mercito very well, the table was set for his future. The rib fracture pretty much was the end for them,” said Parra.

Gesta is currently recuperating from a fractured rib that the Cebuano suffered in sparring last June. As a result of the injury, his July 19th fight with Ajose Olesegun on ESPN was cancelled and is sidelined for the remainder of the year.

Parra used to be the trainer of Gesta until the boxer’s father, Aniceto, took over last year. He also mentioned that he has not spoken to the boxer since the injury and that his contract as his manager ceased last April.

“I’m not sure of his plans. We haven't spoken since his injury. He's a young man. I wish him the best moving forward with or without me,” he stated.

Gesta (26-1-1, 14 KOs) is coming off an unsuccessful lightweight world title challenge against Miguel Vazquez last December 8 on the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez IV undercard in Las Vegas.

Parra believes that Gesta can bounce back from his defeat and his injury and that he harbors no ill feelings if the boxer decides to go in a different direction without him in his team.

“Our contract expired in April, but I got him the Olesegun fight. He knows I'm here and would help him out. He knows me and him are cool,” added Parra. (FREEMAN)