GESTA NOW READY TO GO TO WAR VS. LINARES

By JOSE MONTY FLORES

MERCITO “No Mercy” Gesta of the Philippines said that he is now ready to go to war against reigning WBA lightweight champion Jorge “El Nino De Oro” Linares this Saturday at the Forum in Inglewood, California.
Although he is billed as the underdog, the 30-year old Gesta (31-1-2, 17 KOs) thinks that he can beat Linares (43-3, 27 KOs) in their 12-round championship fight.
“I want that belt so bad. I hope he’s ready, because I’m ready to give a war in the ring. I feel really amazing,” said Gesta during the pre-fight press conference.
Gesta, who is now based in California, won his last three fights including previously against Martin Honorio via an 8th round knockout win last July 15 at the Forum.
Linares, on the other hand, said that he is also ready to give Gesta a good fight.
He was able to train both in Japan and the US for this fight. Linares thinks Gesta is a quick southpaw and a dangerous tough fighter.
But he also badly wants to win because he is planning to unify his belt with the unbeaten IBF world super lightweight king Mikey Garcia in the future.
The Linares-Gesta championship will open HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” doubleheader at 10:30 p.m. while the main event is the 12-round fight for the vacant WBA world welterweight title between Lucas Matthysse of Argentina and Tewa Kiram of Thailand.
It will also feature WBC Intercontinental Youth lightweight champion Romero “Ruthless” Duno of the Philippines against Mexican Yardley Suarez in an 8-round non-title bout.