Gesta, handa na konta Linares

HANDA na si Filipino lightweight contender Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta sa kanyang nalalapit na paghamon kay WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares ng Venezuela sa Enero 27 sa HBO Boxing After Dark card sa The Forum, Inglewood, California sa United States.

Sa media workout kamakailan sa Westside Boxing Club sa West Los Angeles, nagpahayag ng kumpiyansa si Gesta na may kartadang 31-1-2 na may 17 pagwawagi sa knockouts na hindi na niya sasayangin ang ikalawang pagkakataon para maging kampeong pandaigdig.

“I’m fighting Jorge Linares, I’m excited to be fighting for a title. I really like this challenge and I can’t wait,” sabi ni Gesta sa panayam ng Fightnews.com.

Makakaharap niya ang karibal na binansagang “El Nino De Oro” na may rekord na 43 panalo, 3 talo na may 27 pagwawagi sa knockouts.

“Linares is a world champion. He is quick, fast, and he is a tremendous fighter. He is a champ for a reason,”ayon kay Gesta. “Camp is great, Freddie Roach is really smart he knows what he’s doing. Along with (trainer) Marvin Zamudio he has also been great. Expect a great fight.”

Bagama’t may inaasahang malaking laban sa hinaharap, sinabi naman ni Linares na nakatuon ang kanyang pagsasanay sa laban sa dating sparring partner na si Gesta.

Kung magwawagi laban kay Gesta, nakalinya si Linares na kumasa sa mga world champion na sina Mikey Garcia ng Unites States at Vasyl Lomachenko ng Ukraine.

“Thank God the people keep backing me up, giving me blessings and showing me much love, so I must keep working in order to grab all these opportunities. Today much is talked about Mikey García and Vasyl Lomachenko, but first I must defeat Merrcito Gesta and I think I am able to do that,” pahayag ni Linares.

Lalaban din sa undercard ang sumisikat na pambato ng Golden Boy Promotions na Pilipino ring si Romero “Ruthless” Duno (15-1, 13 KOs) laban kay Mexican Yardley Armenta (21-9, 12 KOs) at nangakong magwawagi sa ikatlong laban sa Amerika.

“It’s good to be fighting again on a big card. I want to thank Golden Boy for this opportunity. I trained hard now I am ready o fight,” ani Duno.