CEBUANO star Mercito Gesta makes his ring return today, April 22, and takes on Joel Diaz Jr. in a 10-rounder at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.Gesta tipped the scales at 134.75 pounds, while Diaz Jr. weighed in a little bit lighter at 134.5 pounds.Gesta hasn’t fought for two years and five months. His last fight was a technical draw with Carlos Morales on Nov. 14, 2019 in Los Angeles.Gesta hopes to move back up the rankings, wherein he was once highly rated in the lightweight division.Gesta fought for a world title twice in his career. He challenged then International Boxing Federation lightweight king Miguel Vasquez in 2012, in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez rematch.Gesta lost to Vasquez by unanimous decision.Gesta earned his second world title shot in 2018. He lost via unanimous decision to the World Boxing Association lightweight champion Jorge Linares in Inglewood.Diaz Jr., on the other hand, won his last two contests against low quality opponents in Saul Juarez and Francisco Pina, who he both stopped.The best opponent Diaz Jr. ever fought in his career is against former world champion Regis Prograis, who beat him via a second round technical knockout in 2017.Gesta is 32-3-3 with 17 knockouts, while Diaz Jr. is 26-2 with 22 knockouts. (EKA)