GRADES: MERCITO GESTA, JOSEPH DIAZ, MICHAEL EIFERT, JEAN PASCAL & MORE

By: Jay Calderon

It was an interesting week for us fight fans, with action beginning on Thursday in Canada, and concluding in Inglewood, California on Saturday night.

Starting things off, we saw Michael Eifert cause a sizeable upset when he soundly defeated former world champion Jean Pascal. Then, early Saturday in Newcastle, Cyrus Pattinson delivered a stoppage win over the tough Chris Jenkins in a domestic war. Pattison picked up the English Welterweight title in the process. 

Finally, on Saturday night, we saw yet another upset when Mercito Gesta earned the nod against former titlist Joseph Diaz over ten frames.

So, with that information in mind, let's hand out these grades.

MICHAEL EIFERT: B+
RESULT: DEF. JEAN PASCAL, 12UD (LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT)
The grade for Michael Eifert is tricky. On the one hand, he was a massive underdog that pulled off the upset in the biggest fight of his career to date last Thursday. On foreign soil at that. On the other hand, at 25 years of age, he beat a faded veteran in Jean Pascal that turns 41 later this year.

Eifert didn't have the perfect performance, either. While he was busy and put together a great effort, he slowed down at times and showed signs of having pushed himself too far.

That said, let's not kid ourselves. If you head into a title eliminator as a relative unknown, as well as a 7-1 underdog, a win has to be all that matters.

Eifert did what he had to do, dug deep when necessary, and won a clear decision. Now, against the odds, he lines himself up for a shot at Artur Beterbiev's gold at some point in the future. While he'll be an even bigger 'dog against the Canada-based Russian, that still is quite the accomplishment simply getting to this point. 

JEAN PASCAL: D
RESULT: LOSS TO MICHAEL EIFERT, 12UD (LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT)
To be perfectly honest, the only reason Jean Pascal salvaged a D is because of effort. Outside of his willingness to still put in a decent shift at the age of 40, Pascal did little against Michael Eifert on Thursday night to warrant much better than the lowest of low marks.

To be fair, it's not his fault so much as it is simply time. He's on the wrong side of his prime, been in some hard fights and is unable to do some of the things that once made him successful. Gone was Paacal's explosiveness, as well as his awkward movements and angles. All that was left were his wild swings, mostly too slow to find the mark. And when they landed, they didn't have the same impact they might have half a decade ago.

From the looks of it, this could be the end of the line for Pascal. He might just be a bit too beyond his best days. It must be said, he's done well for himself considering he lost his first real test way back in 2008 to Carl Froch. All things considered, he's had a good career.

While it wasn't his best work, he didn't fail, he didn't give up. Just like throughout much of his career. He just didn't do nearly enough on the night.

CYRUS PATTINSON: B-
RESULT: DEF. CHRIS JENKINS, 9TKO (WELTERWEIGHT)
Cyrus Pattinson was successful in his toughest test to date, winning the vacant English Welterweight title in a domestic war with Chris Jenkins. In against the most resistance he's faced as a pro, Pattinson proved he has the ability, as well as the grit, to succeed in the paid ranks.

Pattinson, a Great Britain stand out in the amateurs, has already reached domestic gold in just his sixth professional outing. What's more, he showed yet again an ability to get an opponent out of there with his power, a facet to his game many amateurs seem to lack once they turn pro.

Having said that, while 28 years of age, Pattinson is still a younger fighter. Getting into these sort of wars early on doesn't spell longevity for the Newcastle native.
Showing you have the heart to win a shoot out is great. But it's even better if you can show you have the ability to ease through a fight, and set the tempo for the contest. The war should be waged on your terms.

Again, he's got time. And he answered some questions. But, for his own sake, Pattinson should look to make things far more one-sided moving forward.

MERCITO GESTA: B+
RESULT: DEF. JOSEPH DIAZ, 10SD (LIGHTWEIGHT)
Mercito Gesta may not end up becoming a rejuvenated threat at 135 pounds, but he lives to fight another day.

On Saturday in Inglewood, California, Gesta out-worked, and ultimately out-hustled his younger foe in Joseph Diaz, earning a split decision that helps keep his career afloat.

In truth, it's hard to rank the win much higher than a B+, when you consider Diaz has now lost three straight. However, it can't be overstated just how badly Gesta needed this win.

Since a draw in late 2019 against Carlos Morales, Gesta has fought just once. Outside of that win over Joel Diaz, Jr. in April of last year, Gesta has only gotten older while sitting on the sidelines. If he lost to Diaz, it would have likely been his last crack at turning things around.

Thankfully for Gesta, he made the most of the opportunity, ironically beating his younger opponent through mostly sheer volume. That said, one should note the intelligence Gesta fought with as well. He didn't care how the fight looked, only about the result. You can impress later.

Now, having shown an ability to get more active in the ring, Gesta has to prove he can be more active with his career in general.

JOSEPH DIAZ: F
RESULT: LOSS TO MERCITO GESTA, 10SD (LIGHTWEIGHT)
There aren't too many ways to slice it: Joseph Diaz had a really bad night.
In a fight against Mercito Gesta that Diaz himself labeled must-win, he lost. And, somehow, it gets worse than that.

Against a fighter five years his senior, Diaz managed to get out-hustled much of the fight. What's more, it was a ten round fight. Meaning, a younger fighter should be able to blaze through the contest, unconcerned with tiring late. Instead, he hardly managed to do much of anything in the contest. He chased, he mostly missed. Repeat.

Diaz has never been a power puncher, nor is he the fastest handed fighter on the planet. He has to beat you with either precision punching or activity. On the night, Diaz supplied neither.

Now, at 30-years-old, Diaz finds himself the loser of his last three contests, losing in a title fight to Devin Haney, losing against a top-rated contender in William Zepeda, and now losing to an older Gesta.

You don't want to write someone completely off, and I don't want to make this a career's obituary. Nonetheless, that loss certainly placed one foot of Diaz firmly inside the professional grave.

-