Six million dollar man: Rex Tso’s next fight will set gate receipt record
Hong Kong’s ‘Wonder Kid’ is expected to fight in front of a capacity crowd of 8,000 against Japan’s Hirofumi Mukai on March 11 as he strengthens his war chest for a possible future world title bout
Records are set to tumble as Rex Tso Sing-yu’s next bout in March is likely to smash past HK$6 million in gate revenue thanks to an expected capacity crowd.
Organisers said more than 7,300 tickets out of the 8,000 available seats had been sold for the March 11 bout against Japanese Hirofumi Mukai (13-4-3, 3 KOs) at Wan Chai’s Convention and Exhibition Centre, making “Clash of Champions 2” the city’s biggest boxing event of its kind in terms of crowd attendance and revenue generated.
Tso’s last fight in October 2016 attracted a then-record 5,000 crowd at the same venue and generated about HK$4 million in revenue but next month’s 12-round super flyweight extravaganza will see ticket sales blast past that record with income from gate receipts and corporate sponsorship topping HK$6 million.
Funds generated from the fight will improve Tso’s already healthy finances but also strengthen the unbeaten 29-year-old southpaw’s war chest for future bouts, which this year could include a world championship fight. To challenge for a world title, an opponent’s purse costs US$250,000 and together with sanctioning fees, hiring of venue, staff costs, board and lodging for fighters and other miscellaneous expenses, it becomes an extremely expensive venture.
