Jhack Tepora during weigh in. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Filipino Jhack Tepora has been stripped of his interim WBA featherweight belt after failing to make weight ahead of his bout against Hugo Ruiz in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Adrien Broner headliner on Sunday (Manila time) at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Tepora hit the scale 5.5 pounds over the 126-pound limit and was given two hours to shed off the excess weight.
The 25-year-old Tepora has also been replaced in the card by Alberto Guevara for being overweight.
The fight against Ruiz was supposed to be Tepora’s US debut and a golden opportunity for the up-and-coming Cebuano to continue his rise.
Tepora, who is under MP Promotions, is undefeated at 22-0 with 17 knockouts. He has knocked out his last six opponents, including a ninth-round stoppage of Mexico’s Edivaldo Ortega last July to win the interim title.
With Tepora out, there are only three Filipinos fighting in the undercard in Rey Perez, Jayar Inson and Genisis Labranza.
Perez, who is from Sta. Rosa, Laguna, takes on fast-rising lightweight and Pacquiao’s sparring partner George Kamboso Jr. while welterweight Inson and flyweight Labranza face Jonathan Steele and Carlos Buitrago, respectively.