Niida scored a highly-disputed 10th round split technical decision over Gejon to retain his WBA 105-pound crown in Yokohama last Sunday. The fight was stopped by Puerto Rican referee Luis Pabon because Gejon was unfit to continue due to a deep cut over his right eyebrow. Since the wound was inflicted by an accidental headbutt, the outcome was settled via the scorecards.
Thai judge Pinit Prayadsab and Korean judge Wan Soo Yuh had it 96-95, both for Niida. Panamanian judge Medardo Villalobos saw it 97-93 for Gejon.
Angeles City-based New Zealand referee Bruce McTavish, a judge in a world bantamweight title fight on the same card, said there was no way Gejon deserved to lose and called the decision "a highway robbery."
"To score it 96-94 for Gejon would be fair," said McTavish who watched the bout at ringside. "To score it 97-93 for Gejon, like I did, would be accurate. The rate of exchange was about 120 punches for Gejon to about 30 for Niida every round. Gejon was stronger and bigger. He controlled the fight from the start. He used his long reach to jab at Niida who hardly did anything. Gejon was never in trouble."
McTavish said Gejon should’ve attacked aggressively starting the fourth round when it was evident Niida couldn’t hurt him.
"Niida tried to fight back but Gejon easily blocked his punches," said McTavish.
After the bout, McTavish said he spoke with WBA executive vice president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza Jr. and Bagnariol who acted as ringside supervisor.
"They told me they couldn’t believe Gejon lost," recounted McTavish. "According to Renzo, it was the worst decision he’s ever seen in the WBA. Mendoza thought Gejon won easily. So I asked them to tell Wakee how they felt."
Mendoza, whose father Gilberto Sr. is the WBA president, begged off from meeting Salud because of protocol reasons but Bagnariol agreed.
McTavish took Bagnariol to the lobby of the Grand Palace Hotel where they met Salud.
"I think it’s only fair that Gejon gets a rematch but next time, he’ll have to go for broke and try to score a knockout," said McTavish.
Salud flew back to Cebu last Monday night and sent an e-mail to Mendoza appealing for a rematch the next day.
"Leading siya all the way," said Salud referring to Gejon. "Sayang talaga at bihira tayong makakuha ng chance to fight for a world title. Sana pagbigyan tayo ng WBA."
Salud said Gejon coasted from the seventh to ninth rounds, prompting Niida to take the initiative with some clever headbutting.
Gejon suffered three facial cuts on butts but the worst was inflicted over his right eye in the 10th. The ugly gash took nine stitches to sew up.
Salud rued the WBA rule where an accidental headbutt is not penalized by a point deduction.
"Mahirap naman mapatunayan na intentional ang mga headbutt ni Niida," continued Salud. "Sabi sa akin ni Gejon, nag-relax siya para may reserba siya for the last three rounds. Hindi naman natin akalain na matitigil ang laban because of headbutting. Dapat naging more aggressive si Gejon at wala naman ibubuga si Niida."
Japanese matchmaker Joe Koizumi admitted it was a close fight and the decision could’ve gone either way. "But Gejon apparently lacked the necessary aggressiveness as the challenger to wrest the world belt in the champ’s home turf," said Koizumi. "Gejon made a good start by throwing more jabs to the much shorter champ but Niida, in the fourth, found his range and started fireworks, freely swinging left and right hooks to the face and belly. Gejon failed to give more pressure to the champ who landed stronger shots to the cautious challenger in the seventh and eighth."
The loss was Gejon’s first in a career that started in 1999. His record fell to 21-1-1, with 13 KOs. Niida made his third defense of the title he won on a decision over Noel Arambulet last year and improved his record to 19-1-3, with eight KOs. It is Niida’s second reign as WBA titlist.
Gejon, 26, captured the vacant WBA Fedalatin minimumweight crown on a fourth round unanimous technical decision over Carlos Melo in Caracas, Venezuela, in January last year. He went on to score back-to-back knockouts before facing Niida.
The 5-6 Gejon is tall for a minimumweight and his 70-inch reach is a distinct advantage. But he failed to capitalize on his assets by allowing Niida to get off the hook.
Salud said in the rematch, if it materializes, Gejon won’t hesitate to go for a knockout at the first bell. "Wala ng relax-relax sa rematch," said Salud. "Dapat, patay kung patay."