By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Filipino boxers Elmer "Yukka" Gejon who fights for the WBA light flyweight crown against champion Yutaka Niida of Japan on September 25 in Tokyo and OPBF super featherweight champion Randy "Komong Bato" Suico who battles former IBF lightweight champion Javier Jauregui in a non title fight on Sunday are both inspired by the "Glorious Sunday" performance of Manny Pacquiao, Brian Viloria and Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista.

Pacquiao, regarded as a "national treasure" set up a much-awaited rematch with Erik Morales who didn’t prove to be as terrible as advertised when he lost a lopsided decision to the sleek Olympian Zahir Raheem, by battering Mexican veteran Hector Velazquez into submission in six rounds.

Brian Viloria scored a sensational first round knockout to win the WBC light flyweight title from another Mexican Eric Ortiz while Bautista hammered Colombia’s Felix Flores Murillo to the canvas in three rounds.

Even as the nation celebrated the triple victories and parish priests extolled the Filipino ring gladiators during Sunday Mass at several catholic churches, Gejon and Suico drew inspiration from their countrymen.

In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Rex "Wakee" Salud who is the manager of Gejon said his fighter was particularly happy that Pacquiao will leave with him (Salud) for Tokyo on September 22 to watch Gejon’s title bid.

Salud said Pacquiao’s presence at ringside will encourage Gejon to bring back the title which would mean that Filipinos will be champions in the two leading boxing organizations of the world in the same weight division as Viloria is the new WBC light flyweight king. Also waiting for a title shot is WBC minimum weight mandatory challenger Rodel Mayol who is now managed by respected Japanese businessman Tasuo Matsuoka.

Suico, who fights on the undercard of the Marco Antonio Barrera – Robbie Peden unification battle is expected to have a tough time against 32 year old Jauregui who boasts of 34 knockouts in 49 wins against 12 losses and 2 draws. However, Suico’s awesome punching power is expected to prevail. The world No. 4 who is managed by well-known Japanese matchmaker and journalist Joe Koizumi is hoping for a title shot at the winner of the Barrera-Peden bout since Pacquiao will be busy battling Morales on January 21.

Suico who has a record of 23-1 with 20 KO’s is in Las Vegas along with trainer Juanito Ablaca and was reported in great shape for his second fight in the U.S scheduled at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Respected trainer Emmanuel Steward who steered the career of heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has indicated that a fight between Pacquiao and Morales "will always be hard because of the inner strength that they both have." However, 2003 "Trainer of the Year" Freddie Roach is confident it would be a different story the second time around and that Pacquiao will avenge his painful loss to Morales last March 19.