Eriberto Gejon: The Unsung Filipino Boxing Hero
Eriberto “Yukka” Gejon is a Filipino minimumweight boxer from Cebu. He twice challenged Japan’s Yutaka Niida for the WBA minimumweight championship.
Gejon’s first title challenge, in 2005, ended in a split-decision loss. In their September 2007 rematch, Niida won a unanimous decision. Gejon therefore never held the WBA world title. Later that year he was stopped by Roman “Chocolatito” González.
Two championship meetings with Yutaka Niida
The first Niida contest took place at Yokohama Arena in September 2005. It ended during the tenth round following a clash of heads, with the championship decided on the judges’ scorecards. Two judges favored Niida by 96–95, while the third scored it 97–93 for Gejon. The split verdict left Gejon with his first professional defeat and a reported record of 21 wins, one loss and one draw.
The rematch in September 2007 produced a clearer decision for the defending champion. All three judges favored Niida after twelve rounds, returning scores of 117–112, 117–112 and 117–111. Gejon’s record afterward stood at 23 wins, two losses and one draw, with 14 knockout victories. Both defeats at that point had come in championship contests against the same opponent.
Those two appearances remain important landmarks in Gejon’s career. They placed the Cebu fighter on the world championship stage in the 105-pound division, first in a close technical decision and later over the full twelve-round distance.
Sources
Sources: BoxingScene report on the first Niida bout; BoxingScene report on the 2007 rematch; BoxingScene report on the González fight.
Career records and reporting: wbaboxing.com.
Tags
Boxing, Boxing History
