Tepora fails to make weight; fight cancelled
Credit to Author: JOSEF T. RAMOS, TMT| Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2019 16:30:55 +0000
The fight of World Boxing Association interim featherweight champion Jhack Tepora against Hugo Ruiz of Mexico on Friday (Saturday in Manila) was cancelled after the Filipino was declared overweight during the official weigh in at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tepora was 5.5 lbs over the required 126 lbs limit. His 30-year-old rival made it at 125 lbs.
International matchmaker Sean Gibbons said that the 25-year-old unbeaten Tepora (22-0 win-loss record with 17 knockouts) would remain a champion since he didn’t fight. Should the fight pushed through; Tepora will be automatically stripped of his title.
“He still has the belt,” Gibbons told The Manila Times via online interview.
The Cebuano fighter though will not receive the $100,000 (P5.2 M) fight purse, which was supposed to be the biggest prize money he will ever receive as a boxer.
“No pay for Jhack,” added Gibbons who refused to comment further on the issue.
The Tepora-Ruiz fight was supposed to usher in the Pacquiao- Broner main event.
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