Niida beats Gejon in rematch to retain title

Compiled by Scott Shaffer

02/09/2007

Niida beats Gejon in rematch to retain title

Yutaka Niida W12 Eriberto Gejon... In Japan on Saturday, Yutaka Niida defeated Eriberto Gejon of the Philippines to defend his WBA minimumweight title on Saturday. Niida, 22-1, beat Gejon by split decision in 2005, but this time Niida won unanimously. Niida is pretty clearly the world's top 105-pounder now that Ivan Calderon has moved three pounds north to junior flyweight. Niida is also 8-1 in world title bouts over two title reigns. The Japanese boxer originally won the WBA title in 2001 then retired, reportedly to run a jewelry store. In 2003, he came back without a tune-up to challenge Noel Arambulet for his old belt. Niida lost by split decision, but got a rematch, reclaimed the belt in 2004 and has not looked back since. Gejon is 23-2-1. source: the china post

Mzonke Fana KO9 Javier O. Alvarez... For the first time in nearly four years, the IBF 130-pound title was retained. The feat was accomplished by Mzonke Fana who knocked out Javier Osvaldo Alvarez in the ninth round in South Africa on Friday to end a run of four fights in which the titlist surrendered the belt on his first defense. Fana, 27-3, won nearly every round before knocking out an exhausted ALvarez with a right hook to the jaw. Before Fana's KO of Alvarez, the IBF had stripped Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera in favor of fights that went to lesser lights Robbie Peden and Cassius Baloyi. source: supersport zone