BoxRec

Joseph Diaz, Mercito Gesta Set For New DAZN Main Event

Joseph Diaz and Mercito Gesta were prepared to steal the show.

They are now tasked with headlining the event.

Both boxers embraced the new role as they weighed in for their scheduled 12-round junior welterweight contest. Diaz tipped the scales at a career-heaviest 139.4 pounds. Gesta was 137.2 pounds for his first fight in nearly a year.

The fight was bumped up to main event status after it was learned that Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez (44-1, 30KOs) was a disgraceful 12 pounds above the light heavyweight limit for his fight versus Gabriel Rosado which was since canceled.

Diaz (32-3-1, 15KOs) aims to end a two-fight losing streak. The former IBF junior lightweight titlist was competitive in a December 2021 WBC lightweight title fight points loss to Devin Haney, who has since fully unified the division. Diaz wasn’t nearly as competitive in a convincing ten-round defeat to streaking lightweight contender William Zepeda last October 29 in San Diego.

The fight with Diaz is a welcomed opportunity by Gesta (33-3-3, 17KOs) after watching plans fall through for a high-profile showdown with unbeaten lightweight contender Ryan Garcia (23-0, 19KOs). The two were due to meet in late January, only for Garcia to pull out of the fight as he preferred to head straight into an April 22 superfight with Gervonta Davis (28-0, 26KOs).

As it turns out, Gesta gets a DAZN main event after all. The 35-year-old Filipino southpaw from San Diego has not fought since a ten-round win over Joel Diaz Jr. last April 21 in Indio, California. That fight was the first for the former title challenger since November 2019, with hopes of remaining more active beginning with Saturday’s showdown.

Below are the weights for the full undercard.

Oscar Duarte (24-1-1, 19KOs), Parral, Mexico, 135.6 pounds vs. Alex Martin (18-4, 6KOs), Chicago, 135.4 pounds—10 rounds, lightweight (136-pound contracted limit)

Eric Tudor (7-0, 6KOs), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 153.4 pounds vs. Damoni Cato-Cain (7-0-1, 6KOs), Oakland, 152.8 pounds—8 rounds, junior middleweight

Dalis Keleiopu (3-0, 3KOs), Waianae, Hawaii, 130.4 pounds vs. Jonathan Perez (40-34, 32KOs), Barranquilla, Colombia, 131 pounds—4 rounds, junior lightweight

Jorge Chavez (4-0, 3KOs), San Diego, 126.6 pounds vs. Bryan Perez (12-16-1, 11KOs), Managua, Nicaragua, 129.4 pounds—4 rounds, junior lightweight

Patricio Manuel (1-0, 1KOs), Los Angeles, 129 pounds vs. Hien Huynh (1-1, 0KOs), Saint Louis, Missouri, 125.4 pounds—4 rounds, junior lightweight

Date: Saturday March 18, 2023
Location: Walter Pyramid - Long Beach, CA
TV/Stream: DAZN

Start Times
Socials: 7 pm ET | 4 pm PT | 11 pm GMT (Prelims)
DAZN: 8 pm ET | 5 pm PT | 12 am GMT (Main Card)

Promoted by: Golden Boy Promotions

Main Card

12 Round Lightweight Bout
Joseph Diaz Jr vs. Mercito Gesta

10 Round Lightweight Bout
Oscar Duarte vs. Alex Martin

8 Round Super Welterweight Bout
Eric Tudor vs. Damoni Cato-Cain

4 Round Featherweight Bout
Jorge Chavez vs. Bryan Perez

4 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Dalis Kaleiopu vs. Jonathan Perez

4 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Patricio Manuel vs. Hien Huynh

Card scheduled to start 15 minutes ago but nothing is on. Anyone trying to watch this ? No message from DAZN about technical problems.

totally missed that this is happening tonight

goose 5 wrote: ↑18 Mar 2023, 20:16 Card scheduled to start 15 minutes ago but nothing is on. Anyone trying to watch this ? No message from DAZN about technical problems.

The prelims already finished ages ago

80-72 lmaooooooooo.

Gesta wins a SD, crazy cards, 97-93 Diaz overruled by 99-91 and 98-92 for Gesta, I had it 95-95 couldn't split them, a lot of close rounds so could've easily went either way, Gesta was the neater boxer , boxed behind the jab ,up on his toes on the backfoot for spells especially later on, Diaz brought the pressure, more rugged but landed the bigger shots up close, looked good when on Gesta's chest or had him on ropes, landing to the body, uppercuts though middle and clubbing shots around the side of the guard, Gesta did land plenty of eye catching shots himself, fought hard not to let Diaz pull away

Probably the most bizarre cards I've seen , as I say I couldn't split them but I'm glad Gesta got it , Diaz is a piece of sh1t

handsofstone wrote: ↑19 Mar 2023, 05:44 Gesta wins a SD, crazy cards, 97-93 Diaz overruled by 99-91 and 98-92 for Gesta, I had it 95-95 couldn't split them, a lot of close rounds so could've easily went either way, Gesta was the neater boxer , boxed behind the jab ,up on his toes on the backfoot for spells especially later on, Diaz brought the pressure, more rugged but landed the bigger shots up close, looked good when on Gesta's chest or had him on ropes, landing to the body, uppercuts though middle and clubbing shots around the side of the guard, Gesta did land plenty of eye catching shots himself, fought hard not to let Diaz pull away

Probably the most bizarre cards I've seen , as I say I couldn't split them but I'm glad Gesta got it , Diaz is a piece of sh1t

What did Diaz do? It's always frustrating watching him fight because he has no jab game for a former Olympian, and he seems a bit of a douche lately with the cringe tattoos, but I've never thought he was a horrible person or anything.

he sent cock pics to a 16 year old or something

and any dude with a lipstick tattoo is a straight up fanny

Aye sending dick pics to wee girls and then pretty sure he just got done with child neglect as well, total wrong un