Tepora raring to steal part of show

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Before Manny Pacquiao climbs up the ring to challenge WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina, undefeated Cebuano boxer Jhack Tepora of IPI’s Omega Gym hopes to steal part of the show in the “Fight of Champions” fistic extravaganza this morning at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The 25-year-old Tepora will figure in one of the four world championship bouts featured in the first major boxing blockbuster in Malaysia in 43 years.

Tepora (21-0, 16KOs) will slug it out with Mexico’s Edivaldo “Indio” Ortega (26-1-1, 12KOs), for the vacant WBA featherweight crown.

The pride of Sabang, Danao City is looking to deny Ortega the pleasure of beating another Filipino in his quest for the world title. Ortega has beaten Drian Francisco in his last bout.

“I can’t promise a knockout. All I can say is that I’m going to give my best to win this fight,” said Tepora, who is eager to show his wares on a bigger stage after scoring knockouts in his last five outings. “This is the moment I’ve been waiting for, and I will make the most out of the opportunity.”

Tepora, who pulled off a smashing second round stoppage of Lusanda Komanisi to wrest the WBO Intercontinental featherweight belt in September last year at his foe’s hometown in South Africa, is actually one of the six Pinoys seeing action on the Pacquiao-Matthysse undercard.

The rest are Harmonito de la Torre of General Santos City (19-1, 12KOs) vs Yongqiang Yang of China (10-0, 7KOs); Vincent Astrolabio (10-1,7KOs) vs Yuuki Kobayashi of Japan (137, 7KOs);Juan Miguel Elorde (25-1, 13KOs) vs Ratchanon Sawangsoda of Thailand (12-2, 12 KOs); Davao’s Jayar Inson (15-1, 10KOs) vs Terry Tzouramanis of Australia; and JR Magboo (17-1) vs George Kambosos of Australia.--EBV