Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta managed to notch a unanimous decision victory over Miguel Angel Mendoza of Mexico in their lightweight showdown earlier today at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Gesta started the fight the way he wanted with well-timed shots, punctuated by a right uppercut to end the first round. Mendoza, a late replacement for Martin Honorio, who failed to enter the US soil due to visa issues, scored a knockdown after landing an overhand left that sent the Filipino pugilist momentarily to the canvas in round two.
After being aggressive throughout the third round, Mendoza continued to pressure Gesta. Fortunate for the San Diego, California-based Pinoy was able to get out of harm’s way with his footwork to evade and counter the slower Mexican.
The 31-year old boxer from Aguascalientes, Mexico tried to keep the fight close by staying aggressive in the latter rounds, but Gesta wisely stayed out of trouble until the closing bell.
After ten rounds Judges Fernando Villareal and Fritz Werner scored the fight 97-92 while Pat Russell scored it 96-93, giving Gesta his 29th victory in thirty-two fights.
“My foot got tripped in his leg but you know, the referee scored it as a knockout so there’s nothing I can do,” Gesta said during the post-fight interviews after his win, referring to the early knockdown in round two.
He also gave credit to his opponent, who put up a fight with just two days’ notice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwmT_hNnzms&authuser=0
“Sometimes, he caught me off-guard but most of the time I’m pulling [my arms up] like that,” he said.
“This kind of opponent [Mendoza], based on his knockout [record], he lunges up hard like swing hard. And of course, people see that I got hit but actually I just moved. You don’t want to stay there and take the punches.”
