Posted by Neil Macasadia on Nov 20, 2012 in Mercito Gesta Articles
By Roy Luarca Photo Credit: bStunt Source Doc: http://sports.inquirer.net/72148/gesta-farenas-see-action-in-pacquiao-marquez-duel California-based Filipinos Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta and Michael Fareñas will test their mettle against tough and popular rivals in the undercard of Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez IV on Dec. 8 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The unbeaten Gesta (26-0-1, 14 knockouts) will be gunning for the International Boxing Federation lightweight crown of Mexican Miguel Vasquez (32-2, 13 KOs) while Fareñas will tangle with Yuriorkis Gamboa, the former WBA-IBF featherweight titlist. While Gesta, a Cebuano who now lives in San Diego, is given good chances of toppling Vasquez, the same cannot be said of Fareñas, who will come into the fight as a substitute for Mexican Miguel Beltran Jr. Though Fareñas, the pride of Gubat, Sorsogon who now lives in Foothill Ranch, totes a respectable 34-3-4, 26 KOs record, he will be up against the unbeaten Gamboa (21-0, 16 KOs), the Cuban gold medalist in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Farenas’ non-title bout with Gamboa, whose showdown with Beltran was shelved following the Mexican’s split decision loss to Roman Martinez last Sept. 15, was reported by ESPN’s Dan Rafael. The 28-year-old Vasquez will be defending his crown for the fifth time against Gesta, who holds training camp at Abel Sanchez’s Summit Gym in Big Bear Lake, California. Like Pacquiao, both Gesta and Fareñas are...
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Posted by Neil Macasadia on Nov 19, 2012 in Mercito Gesta Articles
By Ronnie Nathanielsz Photo Credit: bStunt Source Doc: http://philboxing.com/news/story-77255.html Undefeated southpaw Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta is doing great at his Big Bear training camp in preparation for his crack at the IBF lightweight title held by Miguel Vazquez of Mexico on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fourth encounter at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 9, Manila Time. Gesta’s trainer and co-manager Vince Parra told the Manila Standard that “training has been great as we wrapped up our second week up here and we are coming into the final few weeks and are bring in new sparring partners to sharpen him (Gesta) up, and working on the game-plan.” He said “everything is good, conditioning is good and the weight is right on track and we are looking forward to a big night.” Parra said that when they were training in San Diego, Gesta worked “with a couple of tall amateur kids” but since they got to Big Bear Gesta has sparred with Joel Diaz whom he described as “a real good lightweight prospect and as always we brought in Aaron Garcia who provides support for the conditioning and moving around, to get the rounds.” The trainer said they were bringing a good welterweight from Tijuana, Mexico identified as Jorge Silva ( 19-2-2,15 KO’s) and Cuban Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (17-0, 11 KO’s) who fights out of Miami, Florida. Parra said Bathelemy is “5’ 11” real tall proficient boxer. So these two guys will wrap up the final two weeks of sparring. We are happy with it so far.” He said Gesta is “looking great and his whole family is here and we are all staying together in a house I rented in Big Bear.” Gesta’s father Anecito , a muay thai champion assists in training Mercito while his mother Mercedes does the cooking. Parra said “it’s a family affair and its great and you can’t ask for better support.” Parra stressed that “we are preparing to come in there and show the world that Mercito is an elite fighter and for our part we are looking to put on an entertaining fight. If Miguel Vazquez shows up to fight then we’ll fight. If he shows up to run then we’ll find him. We are preparing for all aspects in this...
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Posted by Neil Macasadia on Nov 15, 2012 in Mercito Gesta Articles
By Chris Robinson Photo Credit: Chris Robinson Source Doc: http://www.examiner.com/article/it-s-up-to-mercito-to-deliver-vince-parra-on-gesta-s-crack-at-miguel-vazquez?cid=rss I remember trainer Vince Parra telling me over the summer that he was interested in setting up his fighter, lightweight contender Mercito Gesta (26-0-1, 14 KO’s), in camp in the California mountains of Big Bear ahead of his Aug. 3 clash with Ty Barnett. And while those original plans would change, as Gesta trained in his adopted hometown of San Diego prior to his 9th round TKO over Barnett, a visit to Big Bear was still in order. Hitting up Abel Sanchez’s Summit Gym on the first of this month, Team Gesta is presently eyeing a date with IBF champion Miguel Vazquez on the pay per view undercard ofManny Pacquiao’s fourth meeting with Juan Manuel Marquez, set to take place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand on Dec. 8. Speaking to me prior to Gesta’s round-robin style sparring sessions with his younger brother ‘Mokz’, junior lightweight contender Joel Diaz Jr., and former national amateur champion Aaron Garcia, Parra revealed why the move to Big Bear was essential. “For the conditioning, and we’re fighting for the world title,” Parra stated. “So, we don’t want to leave anything for chance, so we’re taking full advantage of this great facility. We wanted to get him out of town and just get him focused 110%. This is the biggest fight of his life, so that was the primary reason, was the seclusion and the altitude.” Possessing a 32-3 record with 13 knockouts and having only tasted defeat against the likes of WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley and WBC junior middleweight titlist Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Vazquez is a tough nut to crack. Still, the rangy Mexican has a very passive style that has lent itself to some criticism due to the lack of action that comes with his fights. Offering up his assessment of Vazquez, Parra gives the champion his just due. “He does what he does very well,” Parra claimed. “It may not be crowd-pleasing, but his work has spoke for itself. He’s been able to have this championship, he’s defended it. However people think of his style, it is what it is; it’s effective for him and as a fighter I’d say he’s a guy who I’m sure has made it through a lot of booing but I respect him. I respect his focus to stick to his game no matter what.” Gesta and Parra have been calling for a championship bout for several fights now and their patience over the past few years has definitely been tested. But their moment is finally here and you can hear the anticipation in Parra’s voice as he looks ahead. “Even though we wanted this shot years ago, I can’t say I’m not happy with the work that we’ve had up to this point and the matches that [Top Rank] put us in in order to prepare us for this,”...
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Posted by Neil Macasadia on Nov 15, 2012 in Mercito Gesta Articles
By Ryan Burton BoxingScene.com Video Link and Source Doc: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=59339#ixzz2CGInBx00 Ryan Burton catches up with undefeated lightweight contender Mercito Gesta to discuss his ongoing training camp, and the upcoming fight with IBF champion Miguel Vazquez of Mexico on the Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez undercard in Las...
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Posted by Neil Macasadia on Nov 13, 2012 in Mercito Gesta Articles
By Chris Robinson Photo Credit: Chris Robinson Source Doc: http://www.examiner.com/article/photos-lively-sparring-with-mercito-gesta-as-he-grinds-for-miguel-vazquez-clash Mandaue City, Philippines native Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta is looking to leave no room for error heading into his Dec. 8 challenge of IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez. Having ventured from his adopted hometown of San Diego, California, Gesta currently finds himself in the mountains of Big Bear, as he has staged his latest camp out of Abel Sanchez’s Summit Gym. View slideshow: PHOTOS – Lively sparring with Mercito Gesta in Big Bear, CA as he trains for his Dec. 8 title shot vs. Miguel Vazquez On Monday afternoon, Gesta could be found sparring eleven rounds, going two with his younger brother Anecito “Mockz” Gesta Jr., seven with talented junior lightweight prospect Joel Diaz Jr. (11-0, 10 KO’s), and two with former national amateur champion Aaron Garcia (10-3-2, 2 KO’s). It was the work with Diaz that stood out the most for the 25-year old Gesta, as the two took turns picking their spots and landing cracking shots on one another. While neither man ever truly buckled, it was easy to spot just how crisp and thudding their blows were. While Gesta had success with sharp counter shots, Diaz’s all-out aggression at the start of the fourth round resulted in several memorable exchanges. Gesta-Vazquez takes place inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on the Manny Pacquiao–Juan Manuel MarquezIV televised pay per view undercard and judging by his work today, “No Mercy” will be in prime shape come fight...
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Posted by Neil Macasadia on Nov 11, 2012 in Mercito Gesta Articles
By Chris Robinson Photo Credit: Duenas Aris (L-R: Anecito Gesta, Sr., Mercito Gesta, Stephen Lunas) Source Doc: http://www.examiner.com/article/rances-barthelemy-to-round-out-mercito-gesta-s-sparring-for-vazquez-camp Budding lightweight contender Mercito ‘No Mercy’ Gesta (26-0-1, 14 KO’s) is settling into his training camp in the mountains of Big Bear, California. Having been in the area for a little over a week, Gesta is preparing for the challenge of IBF champion Miguel Vazquez (32-3, 13 KO’s) on the televised pay per view undercard portion on the Manny Pacquiao–Juan Manuel Marquez IV event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Dec. 8. Gesta and his team are training out of Abel Sanchez’s Summit Gym, the same facility that has been used by Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Miguel Cotto in recent times. Gesta hits the gym from 12 to 2 pm while Sanchez oversees his talented stable afterwards, including undefeated junior lightweight prospect Joel Diaz Jr., welterweight contender Carson Jones, and WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin. Gesta’s trainer and co-manager Vince Parra advised me on Friday that they will be bringing in undefeated junior lightweight prospect Ranches Barthelemy into camp for sparring on November 16 as they make their final training push. Barthelemy trains out of Las Vegas under the watchful eye of veteran trainer and cut man Miguel Diaz and he is eyeing a January return of his own against Arash Usmanee. The lanky Cuban has a few similar traits to Vazquez and he should give Gesta some lively work, as evidenced by past sparring sessions of his in the Vegas area. Expect exclusive coverage from Gesta’s Big Bear training on...
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