Gesta ikakasa na ni Arum sa title fight

MANILA, Philippines - Matapos sina Manny Pacquiao at Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire, Jr. si Filipino lightweight sensation Mercito ‘No Mercy’ Gesta naman ang aalagaan ni Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotions.

Ito ay matapos na rin ang paggiba ni Gesta kay Jorge Pimentel ng Mexico via third-round TKO sa kanilang non-title lighgweight fight kamakalawa sa Home Depot Center sa Carson, California.

“I want this kid to fight for a title, maybe before year’s end,” wika ni Arum sa kanyang plano sa 23-anyos na si Gesta. “I don’t want to be too ethnic but he’s the next (Manny) Pacquiao.”

Kasalukuyang dala ni Gesta, ipinanganak sa Mandue City, Cebu at nakabase ngayon sa San Diego, California, ang 22-0-0 win-loss-draw record kasama ang 12 KOs.

Si Gesta ay inaasa­hang itatapat ni Arum kay WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios (28-0-1, 20 KOs) na umiskor ng isang third-round TKO kay challenger Urbano Antillon (28-3, 20 KOs) sa main event.

Sina Gesta at Rios ay parehong nasa Top Rank Promotions ni Bob Arum.

“I’m not trying to be the next Manny, just the first Mercito,” ani Gesta, naka-sparring na si WBA titlist Amir Khan sa Wild Card Boxing Gym ni Freddie Roach. “It’s like someone told me former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe used to say, “I didn’t say I’m the greatest, I just said I’m the latest.’

Inamin ni Gesta na ma­rami pa siyang dapat gawin para mas lalo siyang ma­ging handa pagdating ng title shot kay Rios.

“I’ve got big goals in this sport and working with a world champion like Amir Khan made me feel like I’m on schedule and progres­sing. But there is lots more work to be done,” wika ni Gesta.