Mercito Gesta big hit at Bound Boxing’s Grand Opening

Saturday, August 11, 2012, the brand new Bound Boxing Gym at 457 Broadway in Chula Vista, CA held its Grand Opening celebration with many invited guests which included among others, world ranked lightweight Mercito Gesta (bottom center) and former minimum weight world champion Manny Melchor of City Boxing. Photo: Jim Wyatt

On Saturday, with the help of family, friends plus a top ten ranked lightweight boxer, a brand spanking new boxing gym opened its doors at 457 Broadway in Chula Vista, three short blocks from the Chula Vista Shopping Center.

The owner of this 3,000 square foot facility is Juan Medina Jr., a gentleman who has been around Amateur and Pro boxing ever since he was 16. Over the years, Medina’s two biggest backers/mentors have been Attorney/Boxing Trainer/ex-boxing sensation David Gutierrez and his father, trainer Max Gutierrez of the Gutierrez Boxing Gym in South San Diego. If you were to ask boxing promoters and/or boxing scribes to name the best trainers in Southern California, those two names would always be in the mix.

In 2004, David Gutierrez was selected as Assistant Coach to the Olympic Qualifiers in Brazil. He’s worked with professionals such as 2004 Olympian Vicente Escobedo, James Parison, Anthony Salcido, Eddie Sanchez and numerous amateur champions. Whenever Medina has had a chance, he’s been right there working side by side with this prominent duo helping to train the long list of top amateurs and professionals.

Like his mentors, Medina has learned the hard way by putting in the long hours, either by competing in the ring or being an apprentice coach under the watchful eye of the elder Max Gutierrez. At the same time, he’s become well connected within the industry through his boxing equipment supply company, Bound Boxing.com.

As they say: Dreams become a reality. Now that the Bound Boxing Gym doors have opened, Medina’s dream of having a gym to help local youth in boxing and outside of it as well, has come to fruition.

As an incentive for youngsters to learn the necessary discipline of the sport and continue their education to become productive people in the community, he’s planning to incorporate various motivational themes for the youngsters to succeed. For instance, whoever keeps an “A” average throughout the semester and has perfect attendance, he plans to give them a free pair of gloves. He feels duty bound to have our local youth realize the importance of a higher education.

The meaning of the name on the door, “Bound Boxing”? Medina feels if you are relentless, determined, eventually you’re bound to be a success.

The Medina family wants to thank everyone who came out on Saturday to support their Grand Opening. That, “Thank you!” goes double for one of the most recognized names in the sport, Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta who showed up at no charge with his full entourage – father, Anecito Gesta, friends, training crew, coach Vince Parra, and brought along his WBC Latino Lightweight championship belt.

The 24 year-old lightweight/super lightweight is currently ranked in the top 10 by two world ranking organizations. The International Boxing Federation has him at #10 and the World Boxing Association has him at #6.

In the previous week, Gesta was in Las Vegas on August 3, 2012 to defeat Ty Barnett and thereby improve his record to 26-0-1, 14 KOs. The fight was aired on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights.

Gesta, a San Diegan for six plus years, lives in the East Lake. He broke into the combat sports as a kick boxer and mixed martial artist thanks to his father, Anecito Gesta, who was a pro Muay Thai and MMA fighter in the Philippines.

Below are photos from this fun filled day.