By Rey Danseco
UNBEATEN Eriberto Gejon aims to become the second minimumweight Filipino champion in the World Boxing Association on Sunday.
Gejon fights the reigning WBA champion Yutaka Niida in a 12-rounder at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan as the co-main event alongside the title defense of World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight king Hozumi Hasegawa against Gerardo Martinez of Mexico.
The 5-foot-6 Filipino, who is four-inches taller than Niida, aims to follow Bacolod City-native Joma Gamboa’s feat in August 2000 as he fights for the first time in Japan and the second time outside of the Philippines.
Gamboa won the same title at 105-lb division when he earned a split decision win over erstwhile champion Noel Arambulet of Venezuela in Tokyo, Japan five years ago.
The second ranked Gejon will climb to the ring armed with an unblemished 21-0-1 record with 13 knockouts and is a former Philippine and WBA Fedelatin minimumweight champion.
Pound-for-pound icon Manny Pacquiao, who will watch at ringside, and undefeated WBC No. 1 and WBA No. 3 contender Rodel “Kid Rapido” Mayol – Gejon’s sparmate – has advised the hard-nose challenger to maximize his heap-advantage over the diminutive 5-foot-2 champion, who is a native of Yokohama.
It will be the third straight time Niida (18-1-3, 8 KOs) puts his title on the line since regaining it on July 2004 from Arambulet, who dethroned him in their first match year before.
The third man on the ring will be the 38-year old Puerto Rican Luis Pabon. While the judges are Pinit Prayasab of Thailand, Medardo Villalobos of Puerto Rico and substitute anti-Filipino official, Wan Soo Yuh of South Korea.
On the same card, RP No. 1 and one-time RP super bantam title challenger Ayon Naranjo from Bukidnon aims to enter in the world rankings when he faces undefeated WBA fedecentro featherweight champion and WBA rated No. 4 Jorge Linares of Venezuela, in a non-title fight.
FILIPINO SUPPORTERS
Thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are expected to troupe to the 20,000-seat Arena as organizers open the gate for them free of charge.
“Unahan ito, first come first serve kasi,” said Boris Verdan, a Filipino engineer from the sea-side town of Calauag in Quezon province and working in the port city for nearly five years. “Maraming pupunta (na Pinoy), kasi libre. Everybody will come, from TNTs (those without documents), Japayukis, Engineers, construction workers, halo-halo (and others).”
Pacquiao along with Gejon’s manager Rex “Wakee” Salud will lead the Filipino cheers for their hard-hitting compatriot.
