Rex Tso spars with 'Filipino Flash' Nonito Donaire in Manila
Hong Kong star gets tips from four-division world champ in Philippines capital as pair prepare for Featherweight Fury
Rex Tso Sing-yu went toe-to-toe with four-division world champion Nonito Donaire and is delighted to have learned something from the master.
The 26-year-old Hong Kong star sparred with the 31-year-old "Filipino Flash" at the Elorde Sports Centre in Manila as the fighters began conditioning themselves for next month's Featherweight Fury bouts at the CotaiArena in Macau.
"I learned some invaluable tips from Nonito. He was kind enough to spar with me and he taught me something I think is very important if I want to further my career," said Tso, who will put his WBO Asia-Pacific junior bantamweight title against Japan's Atsushi Kakutani on the line in the undercard on May 31.
Nonito told me to focus on leading my offence with my legs rather than using the upper body. He said footwork was of the utmost importance
"Nonito told me to focus on leading my offence with my legs rather than using the upper body. He said footwork was of the utmost importance," said Tso, who hopes to extend his unbeaten record to 13-0 in Macau.
Donaire will challenge World Boxing Association (WBA) undisputed featherweight world champion Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa in the main event of Featherweight Fury.
"Before I met Nonito, I had watched all his fights on YouTube and I wanted to learn his legendary footwork," added Tso.
"Good footwork requires more stamina because I would have to kneel, bend my knees and shuffle in and out of an opponent."
Tso was in Manila for a few days before continuing his training in Binangonan, Rizal, also in the Philippines.
"It was the first time that I actually got training tips from a world champion before so I am really happy about that," he said.
