Tepora stops Ortega, wins WBA featherweight title

KUALA LUMPUR – Filipino Jhack Tepora put in a sensational performance in the undercard of Manny Pacquiao's fight with Lucas Matthysse, stopping Mexico's Edivaldo Ortega in the ninth round to annex the WBA interim featherweight title Sunday at the Axiata Arena.

The Cebu City-based Tepora clipped Ortega with a right uppercut during an exchange to score a knockdown. The Mexican beat the count, but Tepora immediately jumped on him with a flurry to force the stoppage.

The official time of the stoppage is 2:38 of the ninth round.

In an interview on the ring after the fight, Tepora said his desire to win a title proved to be the difference against the determined Ortega.

"Gusto ko talagang maging world champion," said Tepora, who remained unbeaten in 22 bouts, 17 of which did not go the distance.

Both fighters started the bout with good exchanges, with Tepora employing a mixture of head and body shots against the forward-coming Ortega.

But the Filipino had gotten the better of the exchanges, and Ortega began sporting a swollen left eye midway into the fight.

Ortega fell to 26-2-1 (12 KOs).