Featherweight Jhack Tepora whets the appetite of the Filipino fans at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as he scored a resounding technical knockout win against Mexican fighter Edivaldo Ortega to claim the interim WBA featherweight title.
Tepora remained undefeated as he now holds 22 wins with 17 coming via the short route. He floored Ortega with a massive uppercut midway through the ninth round. The gallant Mexican made it back to his feet before the count of 10 but Tepora was all over him until referee Roberto Ramirez decided to call a halt to the bout at the 2:38 mark.
At the time of the stoppage, Tepora was up on all three scorecards. Judge Gustavo Padilla had it 78-74, judge Jean Robert Laine scored it 79-73, and judge Byong Mong Kim had it 77-75.
The WBA has Jesus Rojas of Puerto Rico as the regular world champion although he has not fought since September of last year. Mexico's Leo Santa Cruz is the WBA super champion in the featherweight division.