Tepora impresses
Tepora stops Indonesian foe Susanto in a fifth-round stoppage, looks at a shot for world title
JHACK Tepora wants his shot at a world title following an impressive fifth round stoppage of tough Indonesian Galih Susanto last Friday night in the main event of "Who's Next?" 3 at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.
"I'm ready," said the 21-year-old Tepora, who snagged the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental super bantamweight crown. "I really want to be a world champion. I'll double my training and work harder to achieve that dream."
Tepora's target? WBO super bantamweight champion Jessie Magdaleno, where he is currently rated 14th.
Tepora was very patient and boxed beautifully against Susanto. He rocked Susanto with his left and softened him up with body shots.
Tepora dropped Susanto in the third with a right hook. He dropped Susanto again in the fifth with a right hook-left straight combination and sent him to the canvas again with a right hook that forced referee Tony Pesons in 2:30 mark.
"I had a hard time against him. He was tough and used headbutts. I didn't expect a knockout because he went the distance with world champion Marlon Tapales," said Tepora, who got cut above his right eye in the fourth from an accidental clash of heads.
Omega Gym head coach Christopher "Ping-Ping" Tepora was impressed with his younger brother's performance.
"He was more patient and mature in this fight but I think he needs a few more fights before a world title," he said.
Tepora remained unbeaten at 19-0 with 14 knockouts, while Susanto suffered his first knockout loss and dropped to 12-7-1 with two knockouts.
Kenny Demecillo (12-3-2, 7 KOs) kept his World Boxing Federation (WBF) AsiaPacifc bantamweight belt with a unanimous decision over Jestoni Autida (9-6, 4 KOs) in an all-out brawl.
All three judges had Demecillo up ahead with identical scores of 97-93.
Christian Araneta (13-0, 10 KOs) knocked out Philip Luis Cuerdo (9-3-1, 4 KOs) in the seventh round in what was by far the stiffest test of his creer.
Araneta was in all sorts of trouble before landing a left uppercut to the jaw that ended Cuerdo's night in the 1:06 mark of the seventh.
Former Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga (3-0, 1 KO) walked away with a fifth round technical decision over Rodel Kirk Pelenio (3-2-1, 2 KOs) in the night's special feature.
In the undercard, Jason Redondo (11-4-2, 7 KOs) settled to a split draw with Ryan Quimbo (5-13-2), Jhaleel Payao (14-1, 8 KOs) scored a second round knockout of Nicong Calamba (623-4, 3 KOs), Tomjune Mangubat (6-0, 6 KOs) knocked out Michael Padayag (3-7-1) in the opening round, Jay-Ar Aliasot (4-1, 4 KOs) destroyed Ronald Garcia (2-11) un two rounds, Feljun Taneo (7-1, 4 KOs) forced Frejun dela Cruz (3-7-1, 3 KOs) to quit on his stool going into the fifth round and Marjun Piencenaves (2-0, 1 KO) just needed 22 seconds to knockout Jesrel Corabal (02) in the opening round of the night's curtain-raiser. EKA