WBA super featherweight champ, hinamon ni Tepora

NAIS ni bagong WBA featherweight champion Jhack ‘El Kapitan” Tepora na hamunin si WBA “super” champion Leo Santa Cruz ng Mexico sa kanyang susunod na laban sa undercard ng muling pagsampa sa lonang parisukat ni eight-division titlist Manny Pacquiao sa Disyembre.

Biglang sumikat si Tepora nang mapatigil si Mexican Edivaldo ‘Indio’ Ortega sa pamamagitan ng isang uppercut para matamo ang WBA interim featherweight crown sa undercard ng blockbuster na‘Fight of Champions’ show sa Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia nitong Linggo.

May kartadang perpektong 22 panalo, 17 sa knockouts, nais makaharap ni Tepora sa kanyang susunod na laban si Santa Cruz na ma rekord na 35-1-1 na may 19 pagwawagi sa knockouts.

“There are many great champions out there in my division but I want to fight Leo Santa Cruz next, if given a chance,” sabi ni Tepora sa lokal na pahayagang Freeman sa Cebu City. “If you want to be the best, you have to fight the best. They know what’s best for me, and I will just follow what they want me to do.”

Hawak ng Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI) ang management contract ni Tepora na lumagda ng four-fight promotional contract sa ilalim ng Manny Pacquiao (MP) Promotions.

Ayon kay OPSI Vice President Jerome Calatrava, binitiwan ni Tepora ang kanyang WBO Intercontinental featherweight title para makaharap lamang ang matibay na si Ortega.

“We are expecting [the remaining three fights] to be big fights so Jhack better be ready,” sabi ni Calatrava. “We at OPSI will prepare him for these upcoming fights and if he fights impressively, we hope he will earn a world title fight against Santa Cruz.”

Nakahanda naman si Tepora na sumabak kung kanino ihaharap ng MP Promotions.

“I will train harder and improve my skills so that I will become a better boxer and fullfill my dream of becoming a world champion,” dagdag ng 25-anyos na si Tepora. “Right now I will take a short rest and celebrate. But I will be back in the gym very soon”.