EX-WORLD champions Jhack Tepora and Marlon Tapales will both be seeing action in a couple of 10-rounders in the same boxing show on June 2 (PHL time) in San Jacinto, California.
Tepora, former interim World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight champion, takes on American prospect Jose Luis Gallegos.
One-time World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight king Tapales, on the other hand, locks horns with Mexican journeyman Roberto Castañeda. Both Tepora and Tapales are trained by another former world champion, Rodel Mayol, at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
“It’s nice training here because there are a lot of talented fighters,” said the 24-year-old Tepora, who has sparred with the likes of Jojo Diaz at the Wild Card Gym. “I will treat this just like any other fight. I won’t let my guard down.”
Tepora, a native of Danao City, lost his belt after failing to defend it due to weight issues. He was supposed to defend his crown against Hugo Ruiz in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Adrien Broner show last January in Las Vegas but he weighed-in 5.5 pounds over the weight limit, forcing him to pull out of the fight.
Though Tepora is still campaigning at the 126-pound weight division, his fight with Gallegos will have a 128-pound weight limit. He’s still a little over five pounds from making weight.
Tepora is confident that he’s ready to regain his lost glory especially now under the guidance of Mayol, a fast-rising boxing trainer.
“I’m ready for a title,” he said.
Tepora is 22-0 with 17 knockouts, while Gallegos is 16-6 with 12 knockouts.
Meanwhile, Tapales is convinced that he’s ready for another shot at a world title.
“I feel that I’m ready for a world championship fight but I have not yet been given the opportunity,” said the 27-year-old Tapales.
Tapales is 32-2 with 15 knockouts, while Castaneda is 23-11-2 with 16 knockouts. (EKA)