THREE Filipino boxers are set to see action in the undercard of world title clash between WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and Adrien Broner on Jan. 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Among the four, Cebuano Jhack Tepora is the one up for a big challenge as he is set to defend his WBA interim world featherweight championship against tough Mexican Hugo Diaz.
Tepora, who is from the Cebu-based Omega Boxing Stable, said that he is very excited for his upcoming fight as it will serve as his United States debut and his second fight in a Pacquiao undercard.
“Isa talaga sa mga pangarap ko as a boxer na makalaban sa United States,” said Tepora. “Hindi ko nga inakala na ‘yung US debut ko matataon pa sa laban ni sir Manny.”
“Ako maghahanda talaga ng mabuti para madepensahan ‘yung championship belt ko,” he added. “Exciting itong laban na ito kasi alam naman natin na isa sa mga best rivalry sa boxing ay Pilipino kontra Mexicano.”
Tepora, who captured his interim world championship with a fifth round stoppage win over Mexican Edivaldo Ortega, has an unbeaten 21-0-0 win-loss-draw with 16 stoppage wins.
The 30-year-old Ruiz was not a pushover as he has an impressive 38-4-0 win-loss-draw with 33 knockout wins. He came from a stoppage win over fellow Mexican Jesus Galicia last November.
Aside from Tepora, also set to see action in the fight card are Genisis Libranza (17-1-0, 10 KOs) and Jay-R Inson (18-1-0, 11 KOs), who is also fighting in a Pacquiao undercard for the second time. Their opponents were not yet named./PN
