TEPORA SQUANDERS PURSE AND A RARE CAREER BREAK IN THE US
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 19 Jan 2019
LAS VEGAS ? Jhack Tepora?s first title defense of his interim World Boxing Association Featherweight crown was postponed indefinitely after he failed to hurdle the scale Friday afternoon here.
Tepora, who totes a 22-0 win-loss record with 17 knockouts, was set to rumble against Hugo Ruiz in a 12-round opening fight of the Manny Pacquiao-Adrien Broner Showtime pay-per-view broadcast on Saturday here.
Joe Ramos, chief executive officer of MP Promotions, revealed that the WBA decided to cancel Tepora?s title fight ?to protect him from possible harm.?
The cancellation, Ramos bared, was approved by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
During the weigh-in, Tepora was 5.5 pounds over the 126-pound weight limit.
Accordingly, Tepora hadn't eaten solid food for three days and was limited to consuming plain water.
Ruiz breezed through the scale, weighing 125 pounds.
?Tepora?s title defense was postponed. It was done to ensure the boxer?s safety. It was not his fault as his team encountered a problem in securing a US visa. He arrived late, just about a week before the scheduled fight,? Ramos claimed.
Ramos further said Tepora was lucky he wasn?t stripped of his WBA interim Featherweight championship belt despite his failure to make the weight.
Tepora won the WBA interim Featherweight plum against Edivaldo Ortega via a ninth round technical knockout on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao-Lucas Matthysse title duel July last year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
After his victory, Tepora ballooned to around 160 pounds allegedly due to lack of discipline.
Tomorrow?s fight was supposedly Tepora?s maiden appearance in the United States.
For his failure to make the mandatory weight limit, Tepora squandered not only the rare opportunity to showcase his boxing skills before the US fans but, above all, he literally kisses his 150,000 US$ guaranteed prize goodbye.
Photo: Jhack Tepora (L) shakes hands with Hugo Ruiz during Friday's weighin at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Aquiles Z. Zonio.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Vayson aims to make history
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 18 Sep 2025KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
Thu, 18 Sep 2025Day Two of 2025 USA Boxing National Open Delivers 108 Action-Packed Bouts in Tulsa
Thu, 18 Sep 2025Bryce Mills Boxes James Bernadin At del Lago Resort & Casino On Thursday, Oct. 30, in Waterloo, NY
Thu, 18 Sep 2025Caribbean Clash Returns Friday, November 7th at Gulfstream Park Casino in Hallandale, Florida
Thu, 18 Sep 2025VM Sotto, City Council Recognize GM Joey Antonio
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 18 Sep 2025Larida is Southern Coach of the Year
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 18 Sep 2025D.C. Knockout Artist Scooter Davis Signs Promotional Contract with Top Rank
Thu, 18 Sep 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 15 SEPTEMBER 2025: Crawford Snatches Canelo's Undisputed Crown at 168 Lbs; Inoue Defeats Akhmadliev to Retain 4 Superbantam Belts; Crocker Outpoints Donovan
By Eric Armit, Wed, 17 Sep 2025TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
Wed, 17 Sep 2025“Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
Wed, 17 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Sep 2025A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
By Dong Secuya, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
Wed, 17 Sep 2025