JHACK TEPORA IS READY FOR PRIME TIME
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 25 Sep 2017
CEBU CITY ? After his spectacular 2nd round knockout win over former IBO world featherweight champion Lusanda Komanisi in South Africa last Friday (Saturday in Manila), Jhack 'El Capitan' Tepora (21-0-0, 16KOs) and his team have declared they are ready to take on anyone in the division.
?I'm always ready to face anyone my managers will put in front of me,? Tepora told the Cebu media Monday after returning back from his conquest in East London where he silenced and shocked the local supporters of his African foe.
?Jhack is ready to challenge for a world title,? Omega's head trainer Julius 'Jinggoy' Jungco who cornered Tepora in South Africa, said. ?We're going to add more to Jhack's arsenal, especially body punching, and he will be a formidable foe to anyone.?
South African commentators on TV who were very much impressed at Tepora's performance, declared that ?Tepora is the Philippines' best kept secret.?
Local pundits who had followed Tepora's career realized Jhack's potential but were not ready to declare him as the Philippines' next star. That right cross that lifted Komanisi both feet off the canvas had totally changed that.
L-R: Trainer Julius Jungco, Jhack Tepora, OPSI vice-president Jerome Calatrava and Michelle Sayon during Monday's press launcheon at the Abuhan Dos restaurant in Cebu City.
Having won the WBO Inter-Continental featherweight title, the undefeated Tepora could soon be ranked higher in his division. ?We expect Tepora to be ranked No. 5 or 6 by the WBO,? Jerome Calatrava, Omega Pro Sports International vice president, said. ?And we will be working for Jhack to be in a position to challenge the champion.?
The WBO featherweight champion is Oscar Valdez (23-0-0, 19KOs) who captured the belt on July 23, 2016 and has successfully defended it three times since then the last one on Saturday in Tucson, Arizona against No. 4 ranked Filipino Genesis Servania.
Tepora will be entering a stacked division that include rising stars Joseph Diaz Jr (ranked WBO No. 1) (25-0-0, 13KOs), compatriot Mark Magsayo (No. 2) (17-0-0, 13KOs), Christopher Diaz (21-0-0, 13KOs) and former world champions Carl Frampton (23-1-0, 14KOs) and Scott Quigg (33-1-2, 24KOs). The other champions in the division are Gary Russell (WBC) Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares (WBA) and Lee Selby (IBF).
Calatrava has informed that South African promoter Ayanda Matiti was very much interested to promote Tepora. ?But we are in negotiations right now with matchmaker Sean Gibbons who promised to deliver a Valdez-Tepora world championship in two to three outings by Tepora.
Calatrava also informed that Tepora could soon be back in action in December on the promotion's Who's Next? Card.
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