Jhack Tepora clutches his son Aries as he shows off his two WBO regional belts, following his fifth-round technical knockout win over Indonesian Galih Susanto in the main event of “Who’s Next?” Pro-Boxing Series last Friday night at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Jhack Tepora is eager to take on the big guns. And if there were doubts on his ability to take on the humongous challenge, the face of the Omega Boxing Gym may have erased all that last Friday night.
Tepora kept his immaculate slate intact while pocketing a second regional title as he scored a resounding fifth-round technical knockout win over Indonesian Galih Susanto in the main event of “Who’s Next?” Pro-Boxing Series 3 at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
“I am ready to fight for a world title. Maybe next year, if given the chance, I am willing to fight Jessie Magdaleno,” said Tepora, whose splendid performance netted him the vacant WBO Oriental super bantamweight belt.
Magdaleno is the reigning WBO World super bantamweight champion, a belt he stole from Nonito Donaire Jr. via a unanimous decision (UD) win last month.
Conquering his first-ever foreign opponent, the 21-year-old Tepora remained unbeaten in 19 fights and now has 13 knockout victories.
“I will continue to train hard. I will double my effort,” said Tepora.
Tepora admitted overcoming Susanto wasn’t easy.
“We prepared hard for him. He was able to last for 10 rounds against Marlon Tapales, so we know he is a tough fighter,” said Tepora, who is also the reigning WBO Asia Pacific youth super bantamweight champion.
Tapales, who was in attendance in the fight card put up by Omega Pro Sports International, scored a UD win over Susanto in their February 8, 2014 fight in Davao del Sur. He is now the WBO World bantamweight champion.
Susanto (12W-7L-1D-2KOs) has never been knocked down coming into the fight but he quickly tasted one when Tepora floored him with a right hook in the third round.
Tepora was in control since then, showing solid defense while connecting with combinations.
Susanto guaranteed a knockout victory but found no answer to Tepora’s superb boxing skills as he resorted to clinching and tackled Tepora several times.
“I stayed focused. My corner told me not get distracted by his antics,” said Tepora.
Early in the fifth, Tepora floored Susanto with a right hook followed by a left straight.
Susanto got up but kissed the canvas again moments later after Tepora on a right hook.
With Susanto unsteady, referee Tony Pesons didn’t bother to count and called a halt to the fight at the 2:30 mark.
“We studied Susanto well and Jhack played our game plan well. I know he is ready for a shot at a world title but he is still young. We have to be patient. Maybe he needs two more fights before fighting for a world title,” said Christopher Tepora, Jack’s older brother who also serves as his coach.
Meanwhile in the co-main event, Kenny Demecillo (12-3-2, 7KOs) kept his WBF AsPac bantamweight belt by a unanimous win over Jestoni Autida (9-6-0, 4KOs).
Christian Araneta (13-0-0, 11KOs), stablemate of Tepora and Demecillo, stayed undefeated by knocking out Philip Luis Cuerdo (9-3-1, 4KOs)in the seventh round.
Cebuano Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga (3-0-0, 0KOs), on the other hand, scored a technical decision win over Rodel Kirk Pelenio (3-2-1, 2KOs).
The fight was halted in the fifth when a clash of heads resulted to a cut in Barriga’s right eyebrow. Barriga was ahead in the scorecards when ring physician Jose Unabia called a halt to the fight.