LINARES RETAINS WBA WORLD TITLE BY UD AGAINST GESTA

By JOSE MONTY FLORES

GOLDEN Boy Jorge Linares landed more telling blows to score a convincing unanimous decision against Filipino challenger Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta to retain his WBA World lightweight title on Saturday night at the Forum in Inglewood, California.
Judges Max DeLuca and Ester Lopez both scored it 118-110 while judge Edward Hernandez Sr. saw it 117-111 all for Linares, who improved his record to 44 wins with 27 knockouts against only three losses.
Linares was sharp in the 3rd round but was also caught by Gesta’s left hook in Round 5.
The 32-year old Linares, however, started dominating already in the 6th round before he suffered a cut on his upper right eyelid in Round 8.
Gesta immediately attacked Linares in the opening round but was warned by referee Jack Reiss for his rabbit punches. Gesta showed quickness in the early round before he slowed down already in the last four rounds.
The 30-year old Gesta, who was handled at his corner by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, suffered only his 3rd defeat against 31 wins with 17 knockouts and 2 draws.
The Linares-Gesta 12-rounder was one of the double world title fight promoted by Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions and Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions.
It was the third title defense by Linares, who won the vacant crown via a unanimous decision against former champion Anthony Crolla of United Kingdom in 2016 at the Manchester Arena in Manchester.
Linares, a former WBC world lightweight champion, first retained it via a unanimous decision also against Crolla in their rematch last March 25 at the same arena. Linares then survived against Luke Campbell of United Kingdom by a split decision last Sept. 23 at The Forum.