COLUMN: JHACK TEPORA STEPS UP AND DELIVERS
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 23 Sep 2017
There were a lot of questions in the minds of boxing pundits here in Cebu when Omega Sports Promotions, Intl. (OPSI) announced that their franchise fighter, Jhack ?El Capitan? Tepora, was going to fight in South Africa against Lusanda Komanisi.
They were the usual questions, of course, that hound a prospect that is unbeaten but widely regarded as untested. Like how will he react if he is on the road, on the B-side of the match-up? Can he adjust after a long travel, change in climate, weather or altitude? Aside from the unfamiliar food and surroundings, he will have to shut out the noise from the hostile fans on fight night.
Tepora was also moving up one division higher at featherweight.
He prepared by training in Baguio, returning to his roots in his short stint as an amateur boxer representing the Philippines. The city has a high altitude and cool air compared to the rest of the country.
Only the very die-hard boxing fans here in Cebu noticed him as an amateur, even when he started winning gold medals in national tournaments. He turned pro without any fanfare and very few of his bouts were seen on local television.
When his name started appearing in the local sports pages, there were comments about his low-level opposition. His fight set in July against Mexican Emmanuel Dominguez was cancelled. So he remained without a credible foe until the call for him to fight Komanisi was answered by the Omega management.
During a conversation with the OPSI Top brass last Friday, together with members of the Cebu sports media, it was unanimously agreed upon that the fight aganst Komanisi, a former IBO world champion, will reveal if Jack Tepora really has what it takes to be a world beater.
And he delivered in devastating fashion.
He battled Komanisi - who had 18KO?s in 21 wins ? in a spine-tingling toe to toe battle. The southpaw Tepora?s left cross was on target. But it was his powerful right hook in the second round that decked the South African flat on his back.
The video replay revealed the look in Tepora?s eyes; he knew the moment Komanisi hit the canvas he was not getting up.
Tepora has the WBO Inter-continental featherweight title and goes up to 21-0, 16KO?s. This is the fourth career loss for Komanisi who owns two wins against the ALA gym?s Roli Gasca. Tepora previously held the WBO Asia-Pacific Youth and WBO Oriental super bantamweight titles.
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