YOKOHAMA HEIST: GEJON VERSUS THREE
By Manny Piñol
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 27 Sep 2005
There was an air of confidence that filled the lobby of the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City Thursday night as the handlers of Philippine miniflyweight champion Eriberto Gejon talked about his chances of winning the World Boxing Association title held by 26-year-old Yutaka Niida of Japan.
Boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, Gejon's manager Rex Wakee Salud and the journalists who were in the group that would leave for Yokohama, Japan the following day were almost sure that the 25-year-old Gejon, undefeated in 21 fights with 13 knockouts and 1 draw, would bring home the title.
Tall and fleet-ffooted, Gejon is reputed to be the best miniflyweight in the country now which would justify his being the Philippine miniflyweight champion.
And so when we parted for the night, we were almost certain that when Sunday comes, the country would have another boxing title courtesy of Yuka Gejon.
There was one person in the group though who did not feel so comfortable about Gejon's chances.
American Terry Carter, whom I had dinner with earlier that night, confided to me that Gejon has not had difficult fights and he considers the Filipino champion "a protected fighter."
"I think he is just too open and he drops his hands," said Terry who also manages boxers based in Cebu City.
I don't know what happened in Yokohama except for what appeared in the internet the following day. Yuka failed to win the title following what was described as a "weird" 11th round technical decision awarded to Niida.
The fight was stopped in the 11th round following a deep cut suffered by Gejon below the right eyebrow in the 10th. Under the WBA rules, when a fight is stopped on account of an injury suffered following an accidental headbutt, the winner is determined by totalling the scores. Whoever is ahead don points, wins the fight.
When the result was announced, Niida was declared the winner by split decision simply because two of the three judges -- Pinit Prayadsab of Thailand and Wanshooh Yuh of South Korea both had Niida leading 96-95 in their scorecards.
What was surprising was the fact that the third judge, Medardo Villalobos of Panama had Gejon leading in his scorecard by a mile - 97-93.
Now, I don't exactly know whether Villalobos was looking at the same fight as the two other judges because I cannot simply understand why three people who are obviously judging the same bout would judge it strangely in contrasting manner.
There can only be one explanation and that is the fact that in boxing, a boxer sometimes does not only face one opponent inside the ring. In a foreign land, he has to face the referee and the judges as well.
Which is what may have happened to Yuka Gejon.
There is another factor that may have led to the "Yokohama Heist" and that is explained by Terry Carter.
In spite of Gejon's sterling record, he did not go through tough fights which could have helped him a lot in facing a veteran like Niida, who was also assisted by two cross-eyed judges.
Gejon's lack of punching power made him vulnerable to the pencils of the two judges who may have enjoyed the beautiful sights of Yokohama the night after the fight.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Ancajas awaits call to join card
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 24 Jun 2025Macado fights Dulayba in Venue 88
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 24 Jun 2025“Showtime” Shea Willcox & Rich Allen turned in KO Performances
Tue, 24 Jun 2025Undefeated prospect Marco Romero To be showcased on Deontay Wilder PPV card this Friday night in Wichita
Tue, 24 Jun 2025Toro Promotions. Inc. to promote its First International pro boxing show in El Salvador on September 20th
Tue, 24 Jun 2025Oklahoma Completes Dream Season; Whips Indiana in Game 7, 103-91 for First NBA Title in Thunder Era
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 23 Jun 2025Japanese Boxer Jin Sasaki Suffers Memory Loss Following Brutal Knockout in WBO Title Fight
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 23 Jun 2025Toshihiko Era Becomes WBF Asia Champion at Age 50
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 23 Jun 2025Ador Torres, Renato Cha, Lemuel De Barbo and Ivan Ognayon Score KO Wins in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 23 Jun 20252025 USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival Concludes with Junior, Youth and Elite Championships
Mon, 23 Jun 2025Second Stage of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix Concludes with Great Success: Heavyweight and Featherweight
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 22 Jun 2025Miel Ticket: Vito Mielnicki Jr. Shuts Out Kamil Gardzielik
Sun, 22 Jun 2025WBC Grand Prix super lightweight results from Riyadh
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 22 Jun 2025Francisco Rodriguez Jr. Stuns Galal Yafai in Birmingham, Secures Interim WBC Flyweight Title
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 22 Jun 2025Jesse 'The Little Giant' Espinas Crowned WBC Asia Super Flyweight Champion in Exciting Knockout Victory in China
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 22 Jun 2025