According to Anthony Springer Jr. of Fightnews.com, Ty Barnett was long on defense and short on offense in a losing effort to Mercito Gesta in ESPN’s Friday Night Fight’s main event. Instead, it was Gesta who used a balanced attack to wear down Barnett before scoring a TKO victory with a mere second to spare in the ninth round.
Mercito Gesta and Crew after Win//Photo: Mary Ann Owen
After having to literally walk the elusive Barnett down in the latter half of the fight, Gesta (26-0-1, 14 KOs) showed he meant business in the ninth. The accumulation of power shots to the face and mid-section paid dividends and a hard left hook caught Barnett flush and sent him to the canvas just as the ten-second signal was given. In no hurry to go to the tenth and final round, Gesta pounced, flattening Barnett with a jab that ended the fight.
And though it appeared that the final punch that tattooed Barnett’s (19-3-1, 12 KOs) face was landed after the bell, Barnett was clearly losing the bout and was in no condition to fight on.
