Tepora itching to fight big guns, wants ‘Jhack Sparrow’ moniker

Dr. Timothy James Dejano (from left), team physician of Omega Boxing Gym, Kenny Demecillo, Pio Paulo Castillo, president of Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI), Jhack Tepora, Christian Araneta and Rico Navarro, vice president of OPSI, grace yesterday’s press launching of “Who’s Next?” 3 Pro Boxing Series at IPI main office in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

JHACK Tepora believes he’s ready to take on the big guns including Jessie Magdaleno, who last Sunday defeated Nonito Donaire Jr. to steal the Filipino fighter’s WBO junior featherweight crown.

“I am ready to fight him and if given the chance, I’ll do my best to beat him,” said Tepora, the prized stalwart of the Omega Boxing Gym.

While expressing readiness to clash with bigger names in the future, Tepora has to focus first on the task at hand as he headlines the ‘Who’s Next?’ 3 Pro Boxing Series on Dec. 2 at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

Unbeaten in 18 fights with 13 knockouts, Tepora will battle Indonesian Galih Susanto (12W-6L-1D-2KOs) for the vacant WBO Oriental super bantamweight crown.

“I am excited for this fight. He is my first foreign opponent and I have prepared hard for him,” said Tepora, the reigning WBO Asia Pacific youth superbantamweight champion, during yesterday’s press launch at the conference room of the International Pharmaceuticals Inc. main office in Barangay Mabolo.

Apart from winning another regional belt, Tepora is hoping to get a new moniker in his upcoming fight.

“After a thorough discussion, we decided to drop the Golden Boy as his moniker. There can only be one Golden Boy and that’s Oscar dela Hoya,” said Rico Navarro, the newly installed vice president of the Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI).

Tepora, however, already has a new nickname in mind.

“I want Jack Sparrow from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean. Because Jack Sparrow was very smart, he always finds way to escape from his enemies,” said Tepora, known as one of the smarter fighters around.

Tepora may have expressed readiness to take on the top boxers in his division but there is no timetable yet as to when he could get a shot at bigger fights, said Pio Paulo Castillo, president of OPSI.

The upcoming card, which is free of charge, is a double championship with Tepora’s stablemate Kenny “Big Heart” Demecillo (11W-3L-2D-7KOs) battling Jestoni Autida (9W-5L-0D-4KOs) for the WBF Asia Pacific bantamweight crown.
Also, former Olympian Mark Barriga (2W-0L-(1KO) will face Rodel Kirk Pelenio (3W-1L-1D-2KOs) of Ablaca Stable in the undercard.

The Cebuano Barriga made his professional debut in the second edition of ‘Who’s Next?’ last July where he scored a unanimous decision win over Melvin Manangquil.

The supporting main event will pit Christian “The Bomb” Araneta (12W-0L-0D-12KOs) versus Philip Luis Cuerdo (9W-2L-1D-4KOs).

Other undercard duels pit Jason Redondo (11W-4L-1D-7KOs) vs. Ryan Quimbo (5W-13L-1D); Jhaleel Payao (13W-1L-0D-7KOs) vs. Jeffrey Estella (5W-1L-1D-4KOs); Tomjune Mangubat (5W-0L-0D-5KOs) vs. Michael Padayag (3W-6L-1D); Jay-Ar Aliasot (3W-1L-0D-3KOs) vs. Ronald Garcia (2W-10L); Feljun Taneo (6W-1L-3KOs) vs. Frejun de la Cruz (3W-6L-1D-3KOs) and Marjun Piencenaves (1W-0L-0D-1KOs) vs Jason Tuñacao (pro debut).