Hugo Ruiz dominates Jhack Tepora replacement in featherweight bout

Ruiz pitching a shut-out in Round 9 of tonight's opening bout 👊 pic.twitter.com/cZruyCpcpm

— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) January 20, 2019

MANILA, Philippines—Hugo Ruiz scored a unanimous decision win over Alberto Guevara, who replaced Filipino Jhack Tepora, in the featherweight contest during the main event of Manny Pacquiao-Adrien Broner title fight Sunday (Manila time) at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The original bout was supposed to be between Ruiz and Tepora for the interim WBA World featherweight title but the Filipino bet stepped on the scales 5.5 pounds above the 126-lb division limit.

Tepora was dutifully stripped of the belt and Alberto Guevara was called in to fight Ruiz in the non-title fight.

Ruiz (39-4) then proceeded to pummel Guevara (27-4), immediately flooring the new opponent seconds into the first round.

The first round knockdown, though, was the only highlight of the fight as Guevara managed to stick around and maintaining distance until the end of the fight.

Robert Hoyle awarded Ruiz with the 100-89 card while Adalaide Byrd and Glenn Trowbridge scored it 99-90.