UNDEFEATED Mercito Gesta has yet to climb the ring in Las Vegas, where he is set to gun for the IBF lightweight title in the main undercard of Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez IV on December 8 (December 9, Manila time).
Yet the guy already feels like a winner.
Reason: The entire Gesta family is now in the 'land of milk and honey' and living the American dream.
Instead if surrrounding himself with close friends and hangers on, Mercito spent the advance he got from his fight purse and bought tickets for his parents Aniceto and Mercy and younger brother Dondon so they could join him in a winter resort at Big Bear, California, where he has been doing high-altitude training to improve his cardio endurance.
Gesta's father now serves as head trainer while his mother is Team Gesta's nutritionist, who has been preparing what she calls 'power juice' from freshly squeezed pineapple, watermelon, apple, celery, and carrots for his son.
While he still dreams of winning a world title, Mercito, who is 26-0 since turning pro in 2003, feels win or lose on December 8, he has already achieved his lifelong dream.
"Pinangarap ko rin maging world champion. Pero ready ako ano man maging resulta ng laban ko sa December 8. Kasi whatever happens I have achieved my dream of bringing my family to the US of A. For me family always comes first," Gesta told GMA News.
Definitely life in the US is already a big improvement for the Gesta family, who no longer had to endure the mosquito- infested shanty they used to call home in Mandaue, Cebu.
Thanks to a model of a son, who always put family first ahead of his boxing dreams.
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