Linares mataas ang tingin kay Gesta
MANILA, Philippines — Hindi man kilala si Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta ay inamin ni Venezuelan world lightweight champion Jorge “El Nino De Oro” Linares na isang mabigat na kalaban ang Filipino challenger.
Ito’y dahil naging sparring partner ni Linares si Gesta.
“The truth is that I respect Gesta, he’s hungry and he’s worked hard to get the opportunity,” wika ni Linares sa panayam ng ESPN Deportes. “I’ve seen him a lot, I had the opportunity to train with him in 2010 when we were with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card, we had a couple of sparring rounds, he’s good, left-handed, strong,” dagdag pa nito.
Hahamunin ni Gesta (31-1-2, 17 KOs) si Linares (43-3-0, 27 KOs) para sa suot nitong World Boxing Association lightweight title sa Enero 27 sa The Forum sa Inglewood, California.
Ito ang ikalawang pagkakataon na susubukan ni Gesta na makapagsuot ng world boxing belt matapos matalo kay Mexican Miguel Vázquez via unanimous decision para sa IBF lightweight crown sa undercard ng ikaapat na paghaharap nina Manny Pacquiao at Juan Manuel Márquez noong Disyembre 8, 2012 sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
Hangad ng 30-anyos na si Gesta, tubong Labogon, Mandaue, Cebu at nakabase ngayon sa San Diego, California na mahubaran ang 32-anyos na si Linares ng korona para maging ikatlong Pinoy na world boxing champion matapos sina International Boxing Fe-deration flyweight king Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes at super flyweight title-holder Jerwin Ancajas.
Tatlong sunod na panalo ang itinala ni Gesta, kasama dito ang 8th round KO victory laban kay Martin Honorio sa The Forum noong Hulyo 15, 2017 na nagbigay-daan sa kanyang paghahamon kay Linares.
“Nothing impossible for me, the experience I had at the time when we boxed with Gesta and the one I have now is quite different, I have shown it in the camp and I will show it in this great fight,” sabi ni Linares.
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