Mercito Gesta (standing) answers questions from the media along with his trainer, Freddie Roach (seated), in a press conference in Los Angeles to promote his upcoming fight next year.
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Hard-hitting Cebuano boxing sensation Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta embraces his role as the underdog in his second fight for a world title on January 27, 2018 against the defending World Boxing Association (WBA) world lightweight champion Jorge “El Niño de Oro” Linares in the double header main event of HBO and Golden Boy Boxing promoted fight card on at the LA Forum in Los Angeles, California, USA.
In a press conference yesterday in Los Angeles, Mercito and his current trainer, hall of famer Freddie Roach, both admitted that it is going to be a tough fight against the more experienced Linares of Venezuela.
“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,” said Gesta in a report from Philboxing.com.
Aside from the WBA world title, Linares will also put his WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine lightweight titles at stake against the 30-year old Gesta, a native of San Remigio town, north Cebu.
“I’ve worked with Jorge [Linares] before with some sparring. 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,” stated Gesta during the press conference.
For his part, Roach, the trainer of eight-division world champion and former pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao said they are ready for this fight.
“We’re in a real tough fight. My guy is definitely getting ready for this fight. 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,” said Roach.
Gesta is currently training at the famed Wild Card Gym in downtown Los Angeles under the supervision of Roach. The Cebuano southpaw is on a three-fight streak in the United States. He holds a record of 31 victories (17 knockouts), one defeat and two draws. His most recent bout was against Martin Honorio last July in Inglewood, California, where he won by a knockout.
Linares, meanwhile, has held the WBA world lightweight title since 2016 and has successfully defended it three times. He is also a former WBC world lightweight champion with a veteran record of 43 wins with 27 knockouts along with three defeats.
The co-main event of the fightcard features Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse (38-4-0, 35 KOs) who will go up against undefeated Thai superstar Tewa Kiram (38-0-0, 28 KOs) for the vacant WBA Welterweight World Championship.. WITH REPORTS FROM PHILBOXING.COM