In what turned out to be a hell of a fight, Mercito Gesta and Carlos Molina fought to a split decision draw with the judges scoring the fight 98-92 in favor of Molina, 94-96 in favor of Gesta and 95-95, creating the end results, a draw. The fight which was anticipated to some degree in terms of “club/local” shows turned out to produce a lot of action and bang for the budget Fox Sports 1 platform provides and a good hor d’oevure for the mega-fight this weekend.

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The fight began with Molina coming out aggressive and starting quick catching Gesta seemingly off guard as he appeared to lose the first two rounds easily. Gesta would then rally back and win the next two rounds in a similar fashion as the fight appeared dead even throughout the first act. The second half was much harder to score and more action packed as both fighters began to exchange in the pocket and oddly Gesta seemed to be getting the worse of the exchanges namely with a left hook that landed crispy on his temple that he took in stride and was replayed repeatedly on the telecast.

As the fight went towards the finish line, it appeared Gesta was wearing out Molina who was still game and exchanging, but now being forced into the fight Gesta wanted to have happen. Yet, in the eighth round Molina rallied back and seemingly won the last three rounds, that would make the fight fight a draw, which was the end result.

After the bout Mercito Gesta spoke to about the fight saying he felt he won the fight, but the rematch is strictly up to his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, discretion. The fight elevates Carlos Molina since he was viewed as “name guy who comes into lose”, but doesn’t hurt Gesta as he is currently not ranked in the top 10 in lightweight

Undercard bouts

In what was suppose to be Jeffrey Fontanez’s toughest fight of his career looked naive in hindsight as Fontanez brutalized Jose Hernandez quickly with a quick knockout in the first minute of the first round.  Rafael Gramajo knocked out Luis Cosme in the first round and Jason Quigley stopped Joshua Snyder in the second round with a brutal right cross that folded Snyder.