UNUSUALLY tall for a minimumweight, Filipino Eriberto “Yukka” Gejon will enjoy height and reach advantage when he guns for the World Boxing Association’s 105-lb title of Japan’s Yutaka Niida tomorrow in Yokohama.
The undefeated, 5-foot-5 1/2 Gejon was nearly four inches taller and had a four-inch edge in reach over the 5-2 Niida during their medical examination Thursday afternoon.
Despite his physical advantages, Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said Gejon (21-0-1 with 13 knockouts) should match the expected aggressiveness of Niida, who is making the third defense of his crown before a partisan crowd.
Gejon should use “more combinations if he wants to become a matured, all-around fighter,” Pacquiao said in an interview before he left for Japan to cheer for the Filipino challenger.
“Dapat may combination talaga siya. Di yung paisa-isang suntok lang (He has to throw combinations and not single punches),” Pacquiao said, throwing short punches into an imaginary target.
Pacquiao took a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Tokyo, accompanied by his wife Jinkee and Gejon’s manager Rex “Wakee” Salud and some friends.
