Back to the drawing board: Rex Tso’s WBA title plans hit the skids as Kohei Kono is beaten in Tokyo
Wonder Kid must come up with a different path to a possible world title shot after the 35-year-old Japanese veteran’s surprise loss to Panama’s Luis Concepcion
Rex Tso Sing-yu’s hopes of winning Kohei Kono’s WBA world super flyweight title were thrown in to disarray on Wednesday night after the Japanese veteran suffered a sensational defeat in his mandatory bout against Panama’s Luis Concepcion.
Tso had been eyeing Kono’s world title for the past 18 months, but it was back to the drawing board for the “Wonder Kid” who needs to come up with a different game plan towards a possible world title now that the 35-year-old from Tokyo is no longer part of his immediate plans.
The 30-year-old Concepcion from Panama City improved his record to 35-4-0, 24 KOs in a thrilling 12-round slugfest, winning by unanimous decision against the Japanese who lost for the first time in more than three years as he dropped his record to 32-9-1, 13 KOs.
Tso, who was invited by Kono’s team to attend the fight, was disappointed with the outcome at the Ota-City General Gymnasium, but said he would continue to work hard towards earning a world title shot.
“I’m a bit disappointed that Kono didn’t win. It’s going to be another tough and hard road to the world title for me, but I am still hopeful,” said 29-year-old Tso, who is still unbeaten after 19 fights (19-0-0, 12 KOs).
“Kono did his best and I’m surprised by his resilience. I was blown away that nobody was knocked out during the fight when they both landed so many hard blows.