Gesta, nanalo sa Mexican

PINATUNAYAN ni two-time world title challenger Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta ng Pilipinas na puwede pa siyang lumaban sa world title bout nang talunin sa 10-round majority decision si Roberto “Tito” Manzanarez ng Mexico para matamo ang North America Boxing Organization (NABO) title sa Fantasy Springs Resort Casino sa Indio, California sa United States.

“In a crossroads lightweight bout for the NABO title, Mercito Gesta (32-2-2, 17 KOs) won a close ten round majority decision over Roberto “Tito” Manzanarez (35-2, 28 KOs). The scores were 95-95, 96- 94, 96- 94,” ayon sa ulat ng BoxingScene.com.

“Manzanarez was mostly doing his best to work from the outside, and using some of his advantages in height and reach, while Gesta was keeping things close, applying a lot of pressure and coming forward at all times,” dagdag sa ulat. “Manzanarez suffered a cut around his right eye at the end of round five.”

Nakuha ni Gesta ang unang limang rounds ng sagupaan at nagpalitan sila ng bigwas ni Manzanarez sa sumunod na limang rounds ngunit mas matitindi at nakaririndi ang mga suntok ng Pinoy boxer kaya pinaboran ng mga hurado.

Inaasahang papasok sa top 15 ng WBO lightweight rankings si Gesta para sa buwan ng Hunyo kaya puwede na niyang hamunin ang kasalukuyang kampeon na Mexican rin na si Raymundo Beltran na matagal naging sparring partner ng eight-division world titlist Manny Pacquiao.