OMEGA GYM WELCOMES THEIR NEW CHAMP
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 17 Jul 2018
CEBU CITY ? Jhack ?El Capitan? Tepora was welcomed by drums and an adoring throng when he arrived today from his WBA title win in Malaysia. A press conference and a celebration greeted him inside the International Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPI) complex.
The event was attended by his stable mates, the Omega coaching staff and top brass, well-wishers and members of the Cebu media.
Tepora showed he can perform under the bright lights last Sunday when he stopped Mexican Edivaldo Ortega for the vacant WBA interim world featherweight crown. More than the title win, this fight served as the main supporting bout for the blockbuster fight between Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse. Tepora finally got a chance to show what he can do in front of a huge international audience.
Tepora together with Omega Sports Promotions VP Jerome Calatrava and Omega gym head coach Julius Erving Junco talked about the title win. Highlights of the fight was also shown on a large screen.
Calatrava stated that Tepora has a three fight deal with Pacquiao?s promotional company. It doesn?t necessarily mean that he will be on the undercard every time Pacquiao fights. Jhack is set to return to the ring sometime November or December.
?It was always my dream to become a world champion.? Tepora said. ?Why should I become a boxer if I don?t become a world champion.?
Junco said this was a sharper Tepora who fought in Malaysia. Despite having to cut down in weight close to the fight, he performed to expectations.
?I knew I could beat him as early as the first round.? Tepora stated, ?I hurt him in the body early. But as the fight progressed he got stronger, so I adjusted. Going to rounds five to seven I knew I could knock him out.?
Tepora, a southpaw, used a right uppercut to deck Ortega, who got up but was still on queer street, probably wondering if he was in Malaysia or Madagascar. The Mexican received a series of brutal volleys prompting the referee to stop the carnage. Ortega finished the fight with swelling around his face and what looked like a broken nose. This highlighted the fact that Tepora?s power was for real.
This was the first time Ortega was stopped. His previous loss was by unanimous decision to countryman Eduardo Ramirez in 2016. Ortega is now 26-2-1,12KO?s. Last year, Ortega beat Filipino Drian Francisco, who previously held a WBA interim world superflyweight title, by unanimous decision.
Tepora scored a highlight reel knockout victory in South Africa last year against Lusanda Komanisi. Brother and trainer Jingjing Tepora realized that the Mexicans were studying the video of that fight so they prepared something new.
?We anticipated that they will prepare for Jhack?s hooks, so we practiced the uppercut in the gym.? The elder Tepora told this writer, ?This set up the Mexican when he weaved to avoid the hook, he got hit by uppercuts.?
Tepora (22-0,17KO?s) is the second world titleholder produced by the Omega Gym. Johnriel Casimero won the WBO interim light flyweight and IBF light flyweight world titles when he was their franchise fighter. Casimero has since parted ways with Omega and Tepora stepped in and became the face of their gym.
The future looks bright for Tepora. Cebu boxing fans may not get to see him fight here anytime soon in Omega?s ?Who?s Next?? boxing series, but we can expect bigger fights overseas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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