MERCITO MAKES FANS CRY MERCY WITH WEAK EFFORT
By Scott Shaffer

Miguel Vazquez W12 Mercito Gesta... Promoter Bob Arum, searching for an heir to Manny Pacquiao as the next great Filippino superstar, gave lightweight Mercito Gesta a prime spot on Pacquiao's pay-per-view undercard. After twelve boring rounds in which Vazquez dispassionately outboxed Gesta to retain the IBF 135-pound title, it is safe to say Gesta ain't no Pacquiao. Gesta is not welcome on future $60 pay-per-view cards. Official scores easily favored Vazquez: 117-111, 1119-109 and 118-110.

Combinations do not seem to be in Gesta's repertoire, as he threw just 336 punches over 12 rounds, and lacked any sense of urgency as a world title shot slipped away.  Gesta ceded the early lead to Vazquez by throwing just 30 punches in the first two rounds. Gesta did little more as he lost round after round, and Vazquez, a counter puncher by nature, did more but not much more, which made for a dull fight.  

Vazquez is trained by disgraced cheater Javier Capetillo, who could not work Vazquez's corner as punishment for slipping plaster of paris into Antonio Margarito's handwraps a couple of years ago. Capetillo should be in jail for his crime, but instead was seated a few rows away from the ring screaming instructions to Vazquez. Shame on the Nevada commission for allowing that, but Vazquez needed no extra help defeating Gesta. source: hbo pay-per-view