Is Tepora Who's Next?

After Nonito Donaire lost his WBO junior featherweight world championship last month and Albert Pagara bowed to Cesar Juarez earlier in the year, the 122-pound division was shakened up as far as Pinoys are concerned. With Donaire most likely having had his last ride as a world champion and Pagara's journey stalled by a loss but boosted by a recent win in the heavier featherweight division (126 pounds), the question arises, "Who's next in line?"

For those of us in the Cebu boxing community, we're pinning our hopes on Jhack Tepora of the Omega Boxing Gym. (As a footnote, this bleacher bum is now lending a hand in the management of Omega Pro Sports International, the boxing promotions arm of the Omega Boxing Gym and the International Pharmaceuticals Inc.).

 Tepora is fresh from winning the vacant World Boxing Organization Oriental junior featherweight championship via a fifth round knock-out over Galih Susanto of Indonesia two Fridays ago at the "Who's Next? 3" fight card powered by the all new Hyundai Tucson, held at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex. Tepora displayed his southpaw mix of boxing and power in proving that he should also be considered as a serious world prospect against world champion Jessie Magadhaleno.

 He is the first to beat Susanto by KO, and he did this in a methodical and calculated manner. After getting to know Susanto in the fist two rounds, Tepora sent his first foreign opponent to the canvass in the third round and had him in trouble from thereon. The end came in the fifth when a groggy Susanto went down for the second time with referee Tony Pesons not bothering to go for the count and waving the fight off. It was a good work-out for Tepora that should get him a top ten ranking in the WBO's world rankings.

He is now 19-0 with 14 knock-outs. But is he ripe for a world title? Tepora is only 23 years old and there's a lot of room for growth in his over-all boxing stock. Moreover, there's no need to get over-excited and rush him straight into the lion's den. As they say, his time will come to determine if he truly is who's next.

The other highlights of the Who's Next? 3 fight card were Kenny Demecillo and Christian Araneta. Demecillo defended his WBF Asia Pacific bantamweight championship via a unanimous decision win over Jestoni Autida. Demecillo outboxed or more like out-punched Autida in a slugfest that didn't see both boxers moving around too much around the ring. It was give-and-take all the way with both boxers having their moments, but Demecillo landing the more blows consistently.

The irony is that Autida landed big blows that wobbled Demecillo, but he couldn't put these together and more often. Meanwhile, Araneta bucked the odds and scored a come-from-behind KO win over Philip Luis Cuerdo in the seventh round. While Araneta had Cuerdo in trouble in the second round, Cuerdo who was leading on points by the end of the sixth round as he had Araneta in trouble and had the upper hand.

 Finding a second win and banking on his conditioning, Araneta turned the tide and pummelled Cuerdo in the seventh round, sending him down and shaking his head as he heard referee Tony Pesons count to ten. This was the Araneta that his handlers was looking for. Araneta was tight, stiff and "gigil" in the early rounds and nearly wiped out all his energy when he went for a knock-out in the second round. This backfired when Cuerdo controlled the third through the fourth rounds with a tough Araneta hanging on, wobbled and close to kissing the canvass. Thanks to an impressive recovery that somehow woke him up, Araneta came out more relaxed in the sixth and seventh rounds and this immediately converted the momentum back to his side. By this time, it looked like Cuerdo was spent as he, too went for an impressive KO win sensing that Araneta was on the verge of going out.

That was a huge "charge it to experience" fight for Araneta who is now 13-0 with 11 knock-outs. Are Demecillo (12-3-2) and Araneta who's next? Demecillo will most likely continue defending his title while Araneta is being lined up for a regional title with the WBO. If plans work out, this could take place at "Who's Next? 4" around February 2017. Ex-Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga had a rather anti-climactic win when his fight with Rodel Kirk Pelenio had to be stopped to a cut suffered by Barriga from a headbutt. Barriga won via a technical decision but displayed his talent and skills against an opponent who was four inches taller. The future is bright for Barriga (3-0) who'll also be brought up slowly but surely.

Over-all, it was a successful night of boxing considering it was Omega Pro Sports International's first foray into the public sports complex scene after two editions held at the Robinson's Galleria. The big fights will be aired on GMA News TV

All fights were both competitive and entertaining, and the crowd was appreciative and cheering. So what's next for "Who's Next?" Boxing fans are now looking forward to a roadshow card and "Who's Next? 4."

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Time-out: Happy birthday to Bobby Motus, our neighbor both here at The Freeman and in our beloved hometown of Lilo-an.