Dream come true for Tepora, captures WBA feather crown

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The undefeated Cebuano boxer Jhack ‘El Capitan” Tepora performed beyond expectations after knocking out Edivaldo ‘Indio’ Ortega of Mexico in round nine to grab the WBA featherweight belt on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Lucas Matthysse showdown yesterday at the Axiata Arena here.

After a tentative showing and defensive slack in the early rounds that saw him at the receiving of Ortega's sharp counter-punching ability, the 25-year-old Tepora started to charge forward with utmost confidence starting in round five.

Since greeting the sixth round with a barrage of head shots to Ortega, Tepora was firmly in control until the fateful ninth round where he flattened the Mexican for the first time with a crushing right uppercut.

Ortega got up before being counted out but Tepora did not waste even just a single second to go for the kill.

Smelling blood, Tepora landed an assortment of punches to the head and body that rocked Ortega to end. Puerto Rican referee Roberto Ramirez, Jr. wisely intervened to prevent Ortega from further damage.

Tepora thus stretched his hot streak to 22-0 now packed with 17KOs, while Ortega slipped to 26-2-1 with 12KOs.

"I'm very happy that I fulfilled my dream," said an ecstatic Tepora in an exclusive interview with The Freeman at the ringside moments after his rousing success. "I came from a poor family that is why I really aspire to become a world champion. I felt happy and blessed now that God gave it to me."

Tepora, fighting out of IPI's Omega Gym, said it was really their game plan to be patient at all times and go for the knockout only when opportunity presents itself.

Lady fortune did smile at him at the right time.

"He was a very tough opponent. My mindset really is to beat him, but I did not expect I would knock him out," said Tepora, who was born in Cebu City, grew up in Liloan and now residing in his new home in Sabang, Danao City with his wife Dinah. (FREEMAN)