PERHAPS DUE to the immense success of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, several Filipino boxers have been tapped to appear in several major boxing promotions for the rest of the year.
Topping the list is minimum-weight contender Eriberto ‘Yukka’ Gejon, a lanky 27-year-old who is slated to fight for the prestigious World Boxing Association (WBA) 105-lb title on Sept. 25 in Yokohama, Japan.
The 5-foot-6 Gejon (21-0-1, 13 knockouts) will challenge defending champion Yutaka Niida of Japan, a 26-year-old diminutive but hard nosed titlist parading an equally fearsome record of 18-1, spiked by eight knockouts.
Beneath the Sept. 10 outing of Pacquiao’s 10-round non-title fight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Boholano bantamweight phenom Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista has been added to spice up an already sizzling undercard promoted by Top Rank Inc.
According to Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer, the 19-year-old Bautista is set to challenge Mexican warrior Gerardo Espinoza, a 26-year-old knockout artist with a record of 28-8 with 26 KOs.
However, American trainer Freddie Roach is reportedly looking for another Mexican foe for Bautista in an 8-round battle who poses a tough but lesser risk nonetheless.
Bautista, the current WBO As-Pac ruler is currently in Los Angeles training under Roach alongside Pacquiao who is also preparing for his next outing versus Mexican hoper Hector Velasquez.
Expected to steal the show from the Sept. 10 card that will also feature Mexican idol Erik Morales against American Zaheer Raheem, is Ilocos-born Hawaiian sensation Brian ‘Hawaiian Punch’ Viloria.
The 23-year-old US Olympian Viloria (17-0, 11 KOs) will try to snatch the WBC lightflyweight belt from defending champ Eric Ortiz in their 12-round title fight.
A week after the Staples Center boxing bonanza, Filipino fight fans may turn their attention to the Sept. 17 promotion at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas topbilled by the 12-round WBC superfeatherweight match between Mexican icon Marco Antonio Barrera and Australian Robbie Peden.
This as current Oriental superfeatherweight champion Randy Suico tries to battle huge odds against top-notch former IBF world lightweight champion Javier Juaregui of Mexico.
This will be the second US outing for the 25-year-old Suico (23-1, 20 KOs) after his successful debut three years ago where he bludgeoned Mexican no-hoper Juan Carlos Garcia in four rounds in Las Vegas.
On November 23 in Japan, former WBC flyweight champion Malcolm Tu?acao is all set for his 12-round OPBF bantamweight title clash versus Thai king Kumarnthong Por Pluemkamol.
The 26-year-old soutpaw Tu?acao (18-1-2, 13 KOs) is currently based in Japan where he scored two straight TKO victories recently under the auspices of Japanese manager Yosue Matsuoka.
