Pacquiao to cheer for Gejon in Tokyo bout

World champion Manny Pacquiao will be at ringside when World Boxing Association No. 2 105-pounder Eriberto "Ioka" Gejon Jr. challenges Japanese champion Yutaka Niida in a 12-round bout for the WBA minimumweight title Sunday at the 20,000-seater Yokohama Arena in Japan.

Pacquiao is set to leave for Japan tomorrow with Gejon’s manager Rex "Wakee" Salud to cheer for the Filipino who said yesterday he will be all out to make a statement against the Japanese slugger.

"I’m in 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 promoter Joe Koisumi said Gejon, who engaged in two sparring sessions with WBC No.19 contender Teruo Misawa, looked sharp and well-prepared.

Like Gejon, Martinez said he’s in top shape and ready to dethrone Hasegawa despite his inclusion as 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."