Wednesday, July 25, 2007 Ioka, tip-top and vengeful
ERIBERTO “Ioka” Ge-jon won’t make the same mistake again.
This time, the sweet-talking WBA No. 1 contender is leaving for Japan early to make the final tune-up for his second meeting with WBA 105-pound champion Yutaka Niida of Japan on Sept. 1 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Team Gejon is planning to leave Cebu for Japan and train at the Shakujii Sports Boxing Gym in Tokyo.
“We are planning to leave for Japan early, Aug. 12 to be exact for the final phase of our training,” trainer Brix Flores told Sun.Star Cebu.
According to Gejon, he is now 70 percent in his training and unlike his first meeting when he lost to Niida in September two years ago, he is more confident now.
“I lack preparation in my weight training before because I sprained my hip and back. And I had to take pain reliever all the time to continue my training. Honestly before, I had no confidence because I was not in tip top condition,” Gejon told Sun-Star Cebu in a separate interview yesterday.
With the training program being followed religiously even on his day off, Flores is more certain that a different Gejon will face Niida this time.
Gejon is currently sparring with stablemate Julius Alcos and Wendyll Janiola every Tuesday and Thursday at the Cebu City Sports Complex boxing gym.
“Alcos has the exact height and style but quicker. I also had heavy weight training and I followed a very strict running schedule,” added Gejon.
On Sundays and Mondays, Gejon run for an hour. For Tuesdays and Thursdays, 35 minutes at a consistent speed, Wednesdays is a 35-minute sprint while Fridays and Saturdays he runs for 45 minutes at a normal pace.
With still six weeks before the fight, Gejon is on target with his weight.
For the moment, the bemedalled former amateur boxing standout weighed at 112pounds. (RCM)
