The manger Mercito Gesta says the rising lightweight prospect’s promoter Top Rank is working on making a title shot against IBF lightweight beltholder Miguel Vazquez.

Vincent Parra, who also trains Gesta (26-0-1, 14 knockouts), of San Diego, Calif. by way of Mandaue City, Philippines, says he has spoken with Top Rank CEO Bob Arum about putting him in with Vazquez (31-3, 13 KOs), of Jalisco, Mexico, in what would be Gesta’s first title shot.

“They’re working on it,” said Parra. “Bob told me a couple days ago he’s making the fight. I’m told we will have something by the week’s end.”

Parra says they had discussed the dates of November 3, 10 and 17.

A matchmaker with Top Rank says “nothing is for sure” but that he hears November 10 is the date being discussed. An email to Vazquez’s co-manager Richard Mota was not returned.

Vazquez, 25, has made three defenses of the title he won by defeating Ji-Hoon Kim by unanimous decision in 2010. Interestingly enough, his only defeats have come in two decisions to current WBC junior middleweight titleholder Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and WBO welterweight titleholder Timothy Bradley.

In his last bout two months ago, Vazquez decisioned Daniel Attah in a non-title match. Vazquez is rated no. 2 by THE RING at 135 pounds.

Gesta, 24, is coming off a ninth round technical knockout of Ty Barnett earlier this month in his first showcase on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights. The southpaw is rated no. 8 by the IBF.

“I believe Mercito can get him out of his comfort zone and make him trade,” said Parra, analyzing the proposed fight. “The speed is going to give him problems. I’m confident Mercito can dominate and maybe even stop him.”

Ryan Songalia is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and contributes to GMA News. He is also a member of The Ring ratings panel and can be reached at [email protected]. An archive of his work can be found at www.ryansongalia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @RyanSongalia.

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