Tepora Looks to Extend KO Streak

Undefeated Jack Tepora is hoping to extend his knockout streak when he takes on Yon Armed of Indonesia in the main event of the “Who’s Next? Pro Boxing Series 4” for his first defense of the World Boxing Organization Oriental junior featherweight bantamweight title at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino this Saturday.

Tepora, who will turn 24 years old on April 8, is undefeated in 19 fights and has an impressive 74-percent knockout percentage having stopped 14 of his foes, including the last three.

A father of two who made his boxing debut on March 4, 2012, Tepora stopped Galih Susanto in the fifth round to win the vacant WBO Oriental junior featherweight belt at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Center last Dec. 2, 2016. Before that, he showed his true power as he dropped Bryan Capangpangan four times in the first round in his first defense of the WBO Asia-Pacific youth junior featherweight title in the second edition of the Who’s Next Pro Boxing Series.

Tepora, who has made no secret his desire to be a world champion, is hoping another impressive victory over the Indonesian will get him closer to a shot against the champions in his division.

“This is a very important fight for me because I’m now ranked No. 11 by the WBO. I want to improve my ranking and be at the top 10,” said Tepora.

Aside from knocking out almost 75 percent of his foes, Tepora, the youngest in a brood of seven, has stopped nine of his last 10 opponents. Since 2014, only Andrew Palas managed to go the distance against Tepora when they fought for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation super bantamweight crown.

A victory will also ease the pain of the loss of Tepora’s stable mate, Kenny Demecillo, who failed in his shot for the WBO Oriental bantamweight belt to Mark Anthony Geraldo last March 11, exactly a week before Tepora’s fight.

Standing in the way of the Cebuano knockout artist is Yon Armed, a 30-year-old pro of 21 fights with a 14-7 record fighting for the second time in the Philippines. Tickets to Who’s Next? 4 are handsomely priced at P500 (VIP), P300 (Gold) and P100 (Silver). These are available at the ticket counter of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino from 2-8pm from Wednesday until Saturday.