By Chris Williams: Former lightweight contender Mercito Gesta (27-1, 15 KO’s) stopped 27-year-old journeyman Edgar Riovalle (37-18-2, 26 KO’s) in the 8th round last Friday night in a successful comeback for the 26-year-old Gesta at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, in San Diego, California, USA. The fight was halted at 2:13 of the 8th.

Gesta is hoping that the win over Riovalle will lead to him getting back into title contention at some point in the future. But for that to happen, Gesta is going to learn to be a lot more aggressive and to throw more punches, because he’s looked very limited in the only two times he stepped it up in his career against Manuel Perez and Miguel Vazquez. Gesta got a controversial 10 round decision over Perez in 2011 in a fight that I saw Gesta losing by 4 rounds. Gesta was promoted by Top Rank at the time he fought Perez.

Gesta hadn’t fought since being totally dominated by IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez in a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision loss in December of 2012.

“I’m happy with my performance,” Gesta said of his win over the little known Riovalle. “I wanted to get the victory by any means and I took him out of there. I was a little rusty but I shook that rust off last night. I know if I continue to work hard I’ll get back on top. My goal is to work my way back into another world title shot. I want to thank all my fans who came to support me.”

If Gesta wants another world title shot, he’s going to need to be more selective in which world champion he faces, because he stands little chance of beating Miguel Vazquez in a rematch. You can say the same for him in fights against WBO lightweight champion Terence Crawford and WBA champion Richard Abril. About the only champion I would give Gesta any chance of beating at this point is WBC lightweight champion Omar Figueroa, but that’s because he’s clearly the most flawed of the 135lb champions. I think Gesta would lose to him too, but he’d have a chance.