ERIBERTO Gejon will get his chance to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) minimum-weight title for the second time against the boxer who handed him his lone defeat in an eight-year ring career—Yutaka Niida of Japan.
“We have ironed out everything, the contract is already in and Gejon is now very eager to sign but we will need until Monday to confirm everything,’ Gejon’s manager Rex “Wakee” Salud told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Gejon is the WBA mandatory challenger and owns a 23-1-1 record with 14 KOs, while Niida holds a 21-1-3 record with 8 KOs.
“However, this is already as good as a done deal. The promoter Akihiko Honda is very interested to see the rematch. And I believe this only makes Gejon hungrier,” Salud said.
Gejon challenged Niida back in September 2005, but the fight was stopped on the 10th round after the Cebuano warrior suffered a nasty cut above his right eye.
Niida kept his belt after Korean judge Wan Soo Yuh and Pinji Prayadsab of Thailand gave the Japanese champion a 96-95 score. However the third judge Medardo Villalobos of Venezuela scored the bout 97-93 for Gejon.
Since then, Gejon only had two fights; a technical knockout win on the second round over Yoddoi Sithsoei one year after his loss to Niida and just last March when he dominated Wisan Sor Suchanya, 100-91, 100-91 and 100-90.
Niida won the title in August 2001 but vacated it after retiring in October.
However, he returned to the ring and in July 12, 2003 challenged Noel Arambulet and lost by a split decision.
He won the belt in a rematch a year later, when the Venezuelan champion was stripped of the belt after failing to make the 105-lb. limit. (RCM)
