Gesta/Valle weigh-in for bout at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel
At their weigh-in for tomorrow night's fight, Ivan Valle (left) and Mercito Gesta (right) posed for photos. Gesta was surprised to learn he would need to lose two pounds in order to make the agreed upon weight and then be reweighed. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
Friday, October 22nd, boxing returns to the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in San Diego with another top boxing card. This one features Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (19-0-1, 9 KOs) going up against the always tough Ivan “Relampago” Valle (28-9-3, 24 KOs).
The eight-round main event will appear on the weekly Telefutura broadcast of “Solo Boxeo Tecate,” presented by Don Chargin Promotions with Jorge Marron Productions in association with Bobby D. Presents and Golden Boy.
Gesta, a southpaw from San Diego, CA, by way of Mandaue City, Philippines, fought his last two bouts on the road, Genaro Trazancos in Tucson, Arizona and Oscar Meza in Tampa, Florida, both victories.
After 40 bouts, Valle, now 30 years old, has fought many of the divisions top boxers: Javier Jauregui, Valentin Lopez, Urbano Antillon, Angel Vazquez, Francisco Lorenzo, William Morelo, Humberto Soto, Juan Carlos Salgado, Rolando Reyes, Enrique Colin, Reyes Sanchez and Carlos Urias.
In 2000, he held the WBC Mundo Hispano featherweight title and then in 2003 he held the Mexican Super Featherweight title.
Gesta’s co-manager/trainer Vince Parra acknowledged that this bout will likely be Mercito’s toughest thus far. “Mercito is always after me to seek out the toughest competition. He’s so good, he wants to be pushed. I now agree with him and I personally arranged for this much tougher bout. He does need to be pushed more.”
The match does have fireworks written all over it. Gesta has been on fire knocking out six of his last eight opponents while Valle boasts twenty-four stoppages in his 28 wins.
After their weigh-in for Friday night's fight at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in San Diego, Michael "Lil Warrior" Franco (right) and Adolfo "El Terror" Landeros (left) pose for photos. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
The co-main event features an eight-round featherweight contest between Riverside, CA’s Michael “Lil’ Warrior” Franco (16-0, 11 KOs) and Mexico City’s Adolfo “El Terror” Landeros (20-15-1, 9 KOs).
While Franco is looking to stay undefeated after coming off an eye injury (he hasn’t fought since November 28, 2009), his opponent is no longer a terror. Over the past five years, Landeros has won only twice and he’s now on a five bout losing streak.
After his successful laser surgery, the 23 year old Franco had to bide his time before getting back into the sport he loves. With the lull in his training, he opened his own gym in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, the Warriors Combat Academy, a combination Boxing, MMA, Muaythai, JuJitsu, all in one gym.
Franco’s work ethic in the gym, his hard sparring sessions and willingness to mix it up with the best fighters available in any weight division, is well known in Southern California boxing circles. He has been known to travel far and wide to get a good workout.
Franco’s ties to the area: At one time, Franco’s grandfather, who served in the Marine Corps for 33 years, was stationed at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA. As a matter of fact, Michael’s dad was conceived on the base.
On the undercard:
Interesting welterweight bout between Mark “Ring Shark” Salser (10-0-0, 9 KOs) from “the Stable,” a well known gym in Mansfield, Ohio is going up against Juan Carlos Diaz (7-0-0, 6 KOs) from Neza, Mexico.
After their weigh-in for Friday night's bout, Mark Salser of Mansfield, Ohio and Juan Carlos Diaz of Neza, Mexico pose for photos. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
Neither boxer has fought anyone with a winning record and according to Mickey Scodova, Salser’s manager/trainer, he had a difficult time getting his boxer back into the gym after winning a July 10th bout. The 5’6” fighter ballooned up to 200 pounds. Getting him into shape was an onerous task. As it was, he fought only once in 2009 and once this year.
Like his opponent, Diaz has been missing in action. His last fight was on April 21, 2007, three years and 6 months ago.
Christian Bojorquez (left) and Salvador Cifuentez (right) both junior welterweights from Chula Vista, CA., pose for photos after their official weigh-in for Friday night's bout at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in San Diego. Both boxers are making their debut into the professional ranks. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
Jr. welterweights Christian Bojorquez of Tijuana, Mexico, younger brother of Emilio Bojorquez (16-1-0, 12 KOs) and Salvador Cifuentez of the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. are both making their debut.
Cifuentez (according to his coach, Sergio Melendrez) is a tough inside, non-stop puncher who will need to get inside on the much taller Bojorquez.
Pablo Armenta (left) and Ronald Hurley (right) pose for photos after their weigh-in on Thursday for their pending bout on Friday, October 22, 2010 at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in San Diego. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
Next up, Pablo “Bronco” Armenta (3-0-1, 1 KO) a graduate of Montgomery High School in South San Diego. He trains at the Gutierrez Gym. Armenta is set to face Ronald Hurley (4-4-2, 0 KOs) of San Jacinto, Ca. Little is known of Hurley only that he hasn’t fought since January 23, 2009, that he’s taller than Armenta and he’s likely to be five pounds heavier at fight time. Of course he has twice as many fights; therefore he has more experience. Last time out, Armenta had an easy time of it when he KO’ed Alejandro Cruz (3-12-2). In Hurley’s last bout, he was TKO’ed in the third round by Lonnie Smith (11-2-2, 8 KOs).
At the Thursday weigh-in for their bout on Friday, Amaris Quintana (right) of La Mesa, CA. and Gloria Salas of Cathedral City, Ca. pose for photos. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
Next we have the ladies, La Mesa, CA’s, Amaris “Diamond” Quintana (2-0-2, 0 K0s) versus Gloria Salas (3-4-1, 1 KO) of Cathedral City, CA. Quintana’s camp decided to retire the nickname “La Reina” in deference to another boxer.
The way these ladies were smiling at one another and exchanging pleasantries at the weigh-ins, it’s tough to imagine the battle they’ll be waging tomorrow night. The last time they fought, the punches never stopped coming and Quintana ended up receiving a unanimous decision victory, her second victory over Salas.
