To kick off the Golden Boy DAZN Thursday Night Fights series, Filipino lightweight contender Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta (32-2-2, 17 KOs) will take on Mexican warrior Juan Antonio "El Mozo" Rodriguez (29-7, 25 KOs) in a 10-round main event, taking place Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Avalon Hollywood. Details for how to watch the fights will be announced shortly.
Gesta, who now calls San Diego, Calif. his home, is a 31-year-old seasoned contender who has previously had two world title opportunities. In his first shot at a title, Gesta fought Miguel "Titere" Vazquez for the IBF Lightweight World Championship. In his second shot, Gesta took on WBA, WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine World Champion Jorge "El Niño de Oro" Linares, considered the very best lightweight in the world at the time. The southpaw will return after defeating Roberto "Tito" Manzanarez via majority decision in June 2018 as he plans to earn another shot at a 135-pound title.
"I'm so excited to get back in the ring against Juan Rodriguez on March 21 at the Avalon," said Mercito Gesta. "Rodriguez is a veteran boxer that is hungry, and I'm ready to put on a great show against him. I've been training hard with Coach Freddie and my Dad at the Wild Card gym, and come March 21, it will be an exciting night of boxing. Hope to see all my No Mercy fans soon!"
Rodriguez is a 31-year-old southpaw who has fought against former world champions Billy "The Kid" Dib and Javier "El Abejon" Fortuna. The native of Puebla, Mexico has also challenged Jezreel "El Invisible" Corrales for the WBA Interim Super Featherweight World Title. Rodriguez will look to initiate a campaign at lightweight by taking on one of its best contenders in Gesta.
"This fight signifies my entire boxing career," said Juan Antonio Rodriguez."It is very clear to me that this may be my last opportunity, so I am going to put my heart and soul inside that ring on March 21. I know that Gesta will not be an easy task, however, he has lost before, and he will lose again."
In the co-main event, Ferdinand "Lucky Boy" Kerobyan (11-0, 6 KOs) of North Hollywood, Calif. will battle Blair "The Flair" Cobbs (9-0-1. 6 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nev. for the vacant Junior NABF Welterweight Title in an eight-round battle between two undefeated Golden Boy prospects.
Manuel "Tino" Avila (23-1, 8 KOs) of Fairfield, Calif. will return in an eight-round featherweight fight against Jose Gonzalez (23-7, 13 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico.
David "Junebug" Mijares (6-0, 3 KOs) of Pasadena, Calif. will face Antonio Sanchez(6-5-2, 3 KOs) of Bayamon, Puerto Rico in a super lightweight fight scheduled for six rounds.
Oscar "Motorcito" Acevedo (4-0), a native of Garden City, Kan. and current member of the Westside Boxing Club in Los Angeles, will take on Bryan Tovar (1-2, 1 KO).of Tamaulipas, Mexico
James "The Beast" Wilson (7-0, 6 KOs) of Los Angeles, Calif., a quick-handed heavyweight prospect who has also fought as a mixed martial artist and a kickboxer, will compete against Nick Jones (7-2, 5 KOs) of Okmulgee, Okla. in his first six-round fight as an official member of the Golden Boy stable.
Chris Ousley(9-0, 8 KOs), a newly-signed super welterweight prospect of Chicago, Ill., will participate in a six-round fight against a soon-to-be announced opponent.
Gesta vs. Rodriguez is a 10-round lightweight fight presented by Golden Boy y Paco Presents. The event is sponsored by Tecate,"THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING." The fights will take place Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Avalon Hollywood.
Tickets for Gesta vs. Rodriguez are now on sale and are priced at $30, $40, $50, and $80, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets will be available for purchase at www.goldenboytickets.com and the Golden Boy Facebook page.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #GestaRodriguez, #ThursdayNightFights and #TNF.