By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com has been advised hat there are ongoing discussions to make a a fight between undefeated rising prospect Ryan Garcia (15-0, 13 KOs) and veteran lightweight contender Mercito Gesta (32-2-2, 17 KOs).
Gesta, who failed in two prior world title attempts, was in action last month when he won a ten round majority decision over Robert Manzanarez at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.
Garcia is quickly coming up as the biggest prospect under the Golden Boy Promotions banner.
Back in May at the StubHub Center in Carson, Garcia picked up his biggest win to date when he outworked world title challenger Jayson Velez for a ten round unanimous decision.
Eric Gomez, President of Golden Boy, says his company is currently trying to finalize the fight. Golden Boy also promote Gesta.
"We are working on that for the fall. We are working on some details, but yes we want to get that fight done," Gomez told BoxingScene.com.
Gesta's two defeats, both by decision, came at the hands of Jorge Linares and Miguel Vazquez.
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who works with Gesta, likes his boxer's chances in that matchup.
"We did get offered that fight. Garcia is a young kid, he can fight a little bit, but I think it's a really good fight for my guy," Roach told BoxingScene.com.
In the last few months, Garcia has been pretty vocal about his desire to face current WBA 'super' super featherweight champion Gervonta 'Tank' Davis (20-0, 19 KOs), who most observers believe is a little too much for the young prospect, at least at this stage of his career.
Gomez explained that his company is eventually going to pursue that fight.
"It's a very tough fight. [Garcia is] a tough kid, he wants to fight the best. He wants to prove that he belongs. But just like any young guy, he has us to slow him down a little bit. But he's ready. He believes that he's ready. We're going to build it up and at the right time why not do that fight," Gomez said.
