LAS VEGAS – Jhack Tepora didn’t have much to say upon arriving at the MGM Grand media room for Thursday’s press conference. He was brief with one word answers and his cheeks were sucked in.
What does he think of his opponent Hugo Ruiz? “Magaling” (he’s good). Is it a different experience fighting on a Manny Pacquiao undercard? “Sobra” (Very).
He was six pounds over the 126-pound weight limit with 26 hours to go before the weigh-in. He hadn’t eaten solid food for three days, and was limited to just consuming water.
After the press conference his schedule is heading straight to the sauna, then rest a bit, and head back to the sauna.
He’s set for a 12-round fight against Hugo Ruiz in the opening fight on the Pacquiao-Adrien Broner Showtime pay-per-view broadcast. But his first opponent, a formidable one, is the scale.
If that sounds insane, it’s because it is. But Tepora says he did the same before his last fight, when he defeated Edivaldo Ortega by ninth round technical knockout on the undercard of Pacquiao’s last fight against Lucas Matthysse. At age 25, a fighter can get away with it, and he’s confident that he’ll be able to make 126 pounds to defend his minor WBA “interim” belt.
Tepora (22-0, 17 knockouts) will be fighting for the first time in his career in the United States. He finished up camp at the Big Yellow Boxing Gym in his hometown of Cebu City, Philippines, sparring with fighters like Jason Pagara, a junior welterweight. Pagara fights three divisions above, but his height approximates the dimensions Tepora will see against Ruiz (38-4, 33 KOs), who is listed as 5’9″.
“It’s a good fight,” said Tepora’s trainer and older brother Jerald “Jingjing” Tepora. “It won’t go 12 rounds.”
Tepora’s other trainer and brother, Christopher “Pingping” Tepora, was still waiting for a visa to travel as of Thursday.
Saturday night is the latest step in a long journey for Tepora, one of seven children who was raised alone by his father, a tricycle driver, after his mother passed away at age eight.
Tepora had been a member of the Philippine national amateur team before turning pro in 2012. As far as Filipino prospects are concerned, Tepora is one of the most promising today, and has stepped up his competition since signing with Pacquiao’s MP Promotions.
“I don’t (go into fights expecting) a knockout, it will just come automatically,” said Jhack Tepora, who is one of four Filipinos fighting on the undercard. “So I’m expecting that this Saturday it will be the same thing, a KO win.”
Seeing him fight live for the first time will be Tepora’s wife Dinah, who has been married to the southpaw puncher for 13 months now.
“Even seeing him on Facebook or on a screen I get nervous. Now in person I don’t know what will be my reaction,” said Dinah Tepora.
She says this is a big step for their family since his purse money is “much bigger” than it was for his last fight in Malaysia. Tepora has made many sacrifices in his career, and is often away from her for 2-3 months while he trains. She often has to keep him motivated when his mood sinks while he cuts weight, but says victory will make it all worthwhile.
Ruiz has been around the block a few times as a fearless banger known for his wars against Julio Ceja and Hozumi Hasegawa.
A former “interim” champ at 118 and WBC junior featherweight titleholder, Ruiz is hoping to resurrect his career after missing two years following his stoppage loss to Hasegawa, when he retired in the corner following the ninth. Ruiz has fought twice since then against lower opposition in his home country Mexico.
“I’m tall enough and strong enough for this weight class and I’m coming to get another knockout on Saturday,” said Ruiz. “I’m more experienced than Tepora and I believe that I know how to start fast and break my opponent down.”
Ruiz is represented by Sampson Lewkowicz, the matchmaker who first brought Pacquiao to the MGM Grand in 2001 for his U.S. debut, an upset knockout of Lehlohonolo Ledwaba for the IBF junior featherweight title. He says he expects a similar upset against Tepora.
“We’ll do the same thing as in 2001. We will win and come home the champion,” said Lewkowicz.
Jingjing Tepora says he’d like one more fight at 126 pounds before his brother moves up, and hopes that fight is against the recognized WBA titleholder Jesus Rojas (26-2-2, 19 KOs).
“I’m just excited for Saturday night and I can’t wait to step into the ring and show the world my abilities and what I can do,” said Jhack Tepora.