By Ryan Maquiñana
Ryan Maquiñana with “No Mercy” after getting his haircut at Fine Line Barbershop in Daly City, CA back in February.
WBO No. 2 lightweight Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (21-0-1, 11 KOs) has agreed in principle to sign a multifight deal with Top Rank, according to promoter Bob Arum.
“Yes, we’ve signed [Gesta],” said Arum by telephone this afternoon. “His first fight with us will be on July 9.”
The news is a blow to rival Golden Boy, who had been the favorite to sign the free agent after his contract with Golden Boy consultant Don Chargin had recently run its course. The Los Angeles-based promoter has now whiffed on their second Filipino star in as many tries, as their attempt to sign Nonito Donaire has ended up in court.
Gesta, originally from Mandaue City, Philippines, has knocked out his last four opponents and six of seven. With Juan Manuel Marquez abdicating his WBO lightweight belt to fight Manny Pacquiao in November and heir apparent and interim holder Robert Guerrero looking to challenge Amir Khan for his WBA light welterweight title in July, the road might be paved for Gesta and Top Rank to make a play for a championship run.
As stated above, Arum informed me that his first fight under the Top Rank banner will be July 9 at the Home Depot Center in Carson on the undercard of Brandon Rios’s first lightweight title defense against Urbano Antillon.
Here’s a full-length feature I wrote on Mercito for MaxBoxing last February before he stopped Genaro Trazancos by third-round TKO in San Francisco:
http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/mercito-gesta-brings-no-mercy-to-san-francisco
Last but not least, here’s a quick video interview I did with him for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area before the bout: http://www.csnbayarea.com/02/18/11/Perez-Gesta-bring-boxing-back-to-SF-on-F/landing_thecooler_v3.html?blockID=413429&feedID=2497
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