Mercito Gesta Razzles and Dazzles

Last night from San Francisco, CA, at the historic Longshoreman’s Hall, Golden Boy Promotions in association with Don Chargin Productions and Jorge Marron Productions presented Solo Boxeo Tecate “War at the Wharf.” In the eight round super lightweight main event broadcast on Spanish Language Network’s Telefutura, fast rising Filipino southpaw Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (21-0-1, 11KOs) of San Diego, CA, by way of Cebu, PI, beat up Genaro Trazancos (22-14-1, 13KOs) of Los Mochis, Mexico, sending the Mexican home dazed and confused on the way to a 3rd round TKO.

Mercito was coming off a battering of Ivan Valle in two rounds last October and prior to that he hammered Trazancos in their first meeting by 7th round knockout in August. “No Mercy” was scheduled to face former “Pacman” opponent Hector Velasquez but when that contest fell through [as no one is demanding and few are willing to fight the pinoy] Genaro showed the warrior spirit by stepping back up to the plate against a man that hit a homerun with his head months earlier, to pursue revenge.

23-year-old WBO NABO Youth lightweight champion Mercito Gesta began lighting up Trazancos from the outset with well placed power punches while remaining calm and composed with the hunting prowess of a predator. Gesta was snapping his jab and connecting with straight lefts as Trazancos circled the ring looking for an opening. Mercito, who had the national emblem shaved into one side of his head while the opposite side read Cebu, which is where the phenom is from, was picking apart the Mexican with right hooks to the body and head, straight lefts to the face and blinding combinations that had Genaro befuddled and holding when he could.

Gesta blasted Genaro with a right uppercut to start the 2nd that had the Mexican back pedaling and second guessing whether he really wanted another crack at this Filipino who’d spent ten rounds over two fights using his head as a swivel. Moments later “No Mercy” touched Trazancos with two straight lefts that buzzed the Los Mochis, pugilist against the ropes. Mercito began to warm up as he began to strut around the ring with the confidence of a sniper shooting a target he was close enough to punch. Towards the end of the round while Mercito’s hands were low Trazancos caught the San Diegan with a couple glancing blows to the head and in classic “No Mercy” fashion Gesta’s body language said, “Okay let’s fight.” Gesta then held his hands low at his side for the remainder of the round releasing laser beams from his waist that were catching his foe and making it look easy.

To start the 3rd round Mercito was showing everyone his hand speed with swift combinations high and low when he caught Trazancos with a straight left that had Genaro doing his best lean back’ impression straight into the ropes which the pinoy followed up with a devastatingly quick two-fisted attack on Trazancos that bobbled his head and had him wounded. Moments later Gesta bombed on Genaro with a highlight reel right uppercut that had the crowd screaming before Gesta lambasted Trazancos with a lead left uppercut that whipped his head back so hard it’s a wonder it remained attached to his body and the fact that Genaro was still on two feet, although it looked like he was stumbling through la-la land, was a testament to the toughness and heart of the Mexican.

Gesta connected with more resounding strikes but the Mexican started coming forward again throwing punches until “No Mercy” hit him with yet another uppercut that staggered Genaro once more. Somehow Trazancos finished the round standing upright but the ringside doctor had an easy decision when he put a halt to the action between rounds saving Trazancos from further and possible permanent damage. With the stoppage Gesta claimed a 3rd round TKO victory in an impressive display of artistic violence.

With the win the Filipino fire cracker Mercito Gesta improves to 21-0-1, with eleven knockouts and seven kayo’s in his last ten fights while Genaro Trazancos slips to 22-14-1 with thirteen stoppages. “No Mercy” also revealed what kind of improvements he’s made dispatching of Trazancos four rounds earlier than he did 6 months ago and made it look much easier this time around.

In the eight round lightweight co-feature Salinas, CA, prospect Eloy “The Prince” Perez (20-0-2, 5KOs) again left much to be desired outpointing 32-year-old Roger “Speedy” Gonzales (27-4, 18KOs) of Chino, CA, by unanimous decision.

24-year-old Perez was coming off a lackluster majority decision over Dominic Salcido that had many in the house that night less than impressed with “The Prince,” on a “Solo Boxeo Tecate” main event. Salcido is a lively fighter and it’s not very hard to give the fans an action packed fight when Dominic is your dance partner. Perez started the bout strong but the fight became stagnant through the middle and Salcido came on strong in the end. Perez escaped with the majority decision and was yearning to show it was an off night in October of last year by looking impressive against the experienced Roger Gonzalez who had only lost to world class competition in Yuriorkis Gamboa, Jhonny Gonzalez and Corneluis Lock. Roger was coming off two defeats in a row at the hands of Gamboa and Lock and needed a good victory over a prospect like Perez.

Perez played it safe content to box while Gonzalez spent much of his time evading. “The Prince” maintained his methodical free from harm approach although he was showing flashes of why he is considered a hot prospect by unleashing some very quick handed combinations but it came in spurts and not enough of them.

The difference in hand speed and technical skill was apparent in the favor of the Californian “Prince.” Eloy out boxed Roger and landed a lightning quick jab all night as well as some flush right hands and left hooks to the head and body. Gonzalez was landing nothing of significance and it looked like it was going to be a less than thrilling fight until the end but Gonzalez decided to fight in the 8th and final round getting aggressive and allowing Perez to find an opening clubbing Roger with a left hook that rocked the fighter from Chino. Perez landed another stout right hand before it was all said and done and gave the fans a reason to stand up and cheer.

When the cards were announced Eloy “The Prince” Perez won a unanimous decision with scores of 80-72 thrice as he takes his tally to 20-0-2, with five finishes while Roger Gonzalez falls to 27-4, with eighteen knockouts, losing his third in a row.

While Perez showed glimpses high level talent and sound boxing this was his second fight in a row that left the fans wanting more out of him and he will have to take more risk in the future if he wants his fans on their feet often like they were in the final round of last nights fight.

Fans in the Bay area had been hearing rumors about a possible Filipino superstar with all the tools in the shed and showed up to Longshoreman’s Hall in anticipation of seeing what all the buzz was about and Gesta gave the curious fans what they came to see. Mercito razzled and dazzled the Bay area fight fans with three exciting rounds displaying many of the weapons the onlookers heard about and were hoping to get a glimpse of.

Gesta has been patiently waiting to introduce his fist to the movers and shakers of the lightweight division and with this victory Mercito hopes to move on to bigger and better things. After the Velasquez debacle Gesta was promised a bigger stage for his next brawl if he was to get past Trazancos a second time, and Gesta did what was expected of him with the motivation of knowing bigger fish are lurking in the deep end and Mercito’s chance to reel them in is just over the horizon.