Gejon out to prove worth

World Boxing Association ranked No.2 105-pounder Eriberto "Ioka" Gejon, Jr. of RWS Stable yesterday expressed he is out to make a statement when he challenges Japanese champion Yutaka Niida in a 12-round bout for the WBA minimumweight title this Sunday at the 20,000-seater Yokohama Arena in Japan.

"I'm in a good shape, and I will prove how good I am on Sunday," said Gejon after conducting a public workout together with Mexican Gerardo Martinez at the Teiken Gym in Tokyo.

Martinez (27-5-3, 20 KOs) has been designated to replace top contender Diego Morales, who backed out of his WBC bantamweight title shot against defending titlist Hozumi Hasegawa after he suffered a nasty cut in his final sparring session.

Noted Japanese boxingman Joe Koisumi said Gejon, who engaged in two sparring sessions with WBC No.19 contender Teruo Misawa, looked sharp and well-prepared.

Gejon's manager, Cebuano bigtime promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud, is set to leave for Japan tomorrow together with Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao, who will be at the ringside to cheer for the Cebuano slick-puncher.

Like Gejon, Martinez said he's in top shape and ready to dethrone Hasegawa despite he's just a last minute substitute.

"I am in good condition despite being a late substitute as I was training for a fight in the end of September. I hear the WBC bantam champ Hozumi Hasegawa is a good southpaw, but I don't care whether he is orthodox or lefty."

Suico, Jauregui Arrive in LA

WBC ranked No.3 super featherweight contender Randy "Kumong Bato" Suico (23-1, 20 KOs) and former IBF lightweight champion Javier Jauregui (49-12-2, 34 KOs) of Mexico arrived in Los Angeles, two days prior to their eagerly-awaited encounter this Saturday at the USC Lyon Center in LA.

The 25-year-old Suico once fought in Las Vegas, knocking out Mexican Juan Carlos Garcia in the fourth round three years ago.

Suico suffered his first and only loss so far at the hands of South African Mzonke Fana via split decision in their WBC elimination bout in May last year in South Africa. The Cebuano power-hitter though scored a couple of OPBF title defenses after his lone defeat.

Jauregui, on the other hand, won the IBF lightweight crown by stopping Leavander Johnson in eleven rounds in November 2003, but lost it to Julio Diaz by a majority decision in his first defense in March 2004.