Boxing
Pinoy fighter Gesta shines in ESPN headlining debut with TKO victory
Top Rank/Chris Farina
Unbeaten Filipino lightweight Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta made a strong impression in his debut headlining an ESPN Friday Night Fights card, stopping Ty Barrett with a ninth-round technical knockout in North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Gesta, fighting out of San Diego, California by way of Mandaue City, Cebu, dominated the fight before knocking down the taller Barnett in the ninth round twice, leading referee Jay Nady to stop the bout.
The Filipino southpaw’s record improved to 26-0-1 with 13 KOs.
Before the fight, Barnett did his share in trash-talking Gesta, calling him overrated and trying to bait him into a word war. Gesta did his talking in the ring.
“He said I’m overrated. That’s what happens,” Gesta told Examiner.com’s Dennis Guillermo after the fight. “He got knocked out in the ninth round. For me, I like that. I like it when my opponent is so confident. Barnett was tough too. He stood there and fought hard.”
