GEJON OFF TO JAPAN!
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 18 Sep 2005
GEJON OFF TO JAPAN TODAY
Salven L. Lagumbay
MANDAUE CITY--Saying he is through with the hard part, Filipino Eriberto "Yukka" Gejon, all primed and in perfect shape for his September 25 WBA minimumweight title challenge, jetted off this morning for Japan with only one mission in mind: Bring home the world title.
The lanky and undefeated Gejon (21-0-1, 13 KO's) took a Philippine Airlines flight this morning, accompanied by chief trainer Brix Flores and conditioning coach Robert Bubuli.
Gejon will challenge WBA 105-lb champ Yutaka Niida on Sept. 25 at the 20,000-capacity Yokohama Arena.
Gejon's manager Rex "Wakee" Salud, departs next week together with pound-for-pound icon Manny Pacquiao, some members of Philippine media, and a coterie of Salud's business associates.
"God knows how much I've prepared for this fight. There is no question about that. My manager and my team are ready to go. This will be a quality fight," said Gejon yesterday.
Last Thursday, Gejon wrapped up some 130 rounds of sparring, which include sessions with OPBF minimumweight kingpin Rodel Mayol, RP flyweight champ Federico Catubay, RP minimumweight champ Elmer Gejon, Fabio Marfa, Ricardo Albia, Bogie Delada, Aljun Salogaol, and Jerope Mercado.
Meanwhile, yesterday in Japan, WBA kingpin Yutaka Niida sparred for the final time with Mexican sparmate Luis Angel Martinez in front of the press at the Yokohama-Hikari Gym.
Niida, a slick-punching champ, said after the workout: "This is my best training so far, in my third title defense. This fight will not go the distance."
Niida will try to break the jinx suffered by Japanese minimumweight ex-world champs, who lost in their third title defenses. These ex-champs include Hideyuki Ohashi, Hiroki Ioka, Keitaro Hoshino, Eagle Kyowa, and Katsunari Takayama, who made only two title defenses.
As for Gejon, he will have to contend with a bleak record for WBA minimumweight title fight results in the last seven years: All of the fights went the distance. Meaning, he will have to try to win the title by knockout.
END
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