Ni Gilbert Espeña
KAKAIBANG Mercito Gesta ang haharap kay WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares ng Venezuela sa kanilang sagupaan sa Enero 27, 2018 sa The Forum, Inglewood, Califonia sa United States dahil puspusan ang pagsasanay ng Pilipino sa ilalim ni Hall of Famer Freddie Roach.
“We’re in a real tough fight. My guy [Mercito Gesta] is definitely getting ready for this fight,” sabi ni Roach sa Fightnews.com. “We’re going over a lot of strategy. We started sparring yesterday, and it went well. We still have a lot of time to work a little more. He’s looking good so far. I feel we can win this fight. This is a good opportunity for us and we have to take advantage of it as much as we can.”
Para kay Gesta na nakalista lamang na No. 14 contender sa WBA ratings, naging sparring partner siya ni Linares kaya malaki ang kanyang tsansa na makipagsabayan sa Venezuelan na kampeon din ng The Ring Magazine.
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“I know it will be a tough fight. I’m a challenger, an underdog. But I love that feeling. It makes me hungrier, train harder and box smarter. I’ve worked with Jorge [Linares] before with some sparring,” diin ni Gesta na binansagang ‘No Mercy’ sa kanayng estilo ng boksing. “I know sparring is different, but I did well. Still, I know his style and power. With the help of Coach Freddie, we’ll have the right strategy. I am hungry for this title. I’ll do anything to get that title. I will give a good show in that fight.”
Masaya maging ang matchmaker ng Golden Boy Promotions na si Roberto Diaz sa mabilis na world title crack ni Gesta sa ilalim ng pamamahala ni multi-division world titlist Oscar dela Hoya mula nang umalis kay Top Rank big boss Bob Arum.
“On January 27, Argentine knockout artist ‘La Maquina’ Matthysse will battle Thai superstar Tewa Kiram in a 12-round battle for the vacant WBA welterweight World Championship at the Fabulous Forum.That night, Golden Boy Promotions will have a double main event at the Forum, with Jorge ‘El Nino De Oro’ Linares battling the once-defeated Mercito ‘No Mercy’ Gesta in a 12-round fight for Linares’ WBA, WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine lightweight World Championships,” sabi ni Diaz.
“Gesta has not tasted defeat in six fights, beating quality opponents including Gilberto ‘El Flaco’ Gonzalez and former contender Martin ‘El Brochas’ Honorio. He is hungry for this fight and for this chance to be world champion,” aniya.
May rekord si Linares na 43-3-0 win-loss-draw na may 27 TKO habang si Gesta ay may kartadang 31-1-2 win-loss-draw na may 17 pagwawagi sa knockouts.
