‘It’s up to Mercito to deliver’: Vince Parra on Gesta’s crack at Miguel Vazquez
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,” stated Parra. “It’s been worth the wait.
“I think this is the right time and people are really going to get to see what he’s capable of and see what we’ve been saying the whole time, that he’s an elite fighter,” Parra noted. “This is the opportunity, now it’s up to Mercito to deliver.”
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