FILIPINO challenger Eriberto “Yukka” Gejon can expect a fair shake in officiating when he tries to wrest the World Boxing Association minimum weight crown from Japanese defending champion Yutaka Niida when they tangle on September 25 at the Yokohama Arena in Japan.
In an interview, WBA executive vice president Gilberto Jesu Mendoza said that he has assigned veteran referee Luis Pabon of Puerto Rico as the third man in the ring while the judges are Medardo Villalobos of Panama, Jesus Cova of Venezuela and Chalerm Prayadab of Thailand.
“No Japanese or Filipino [judges], all [officials] will be neutral,” Mendoza, the son of WBA president Gilberto Mendoza, said.
Niida is making his third defense of the WBA 105-lb title at the Yokohama Arena, which can accommodate 20,000 spectators.
Aside from being rated No. 2 by the WBA, the Filipino is unbeaten in 22 fights—13 of them by knockout—and one draw. He is ranked No. 8 both by the IBF and WBC and No. 4 by the WBO.
A Yokohama native, Niida, who stands 5-foot-2, has a record of 18-1-3 with 8 knockouts mark in his ledger.
He won the title in August 2001 until Venezuelan Noel Arambulet dethroned him on close split decision in July 2003.
He reclaimed the title by beating Arumbulet in a rematch, winning by unanimous decision in July 2004 and has defended the crown successfully twice since then.
