Unbeaten Rex Tso fights for two titles at Ring of Gold in Macau
Hong Kong star will defend WBC crown and also seek vacant WBO Asia-Pacific super-flyweight belt
Hong Kong star Rex Tso Sing-yu will fight for two titles in February's Ring of Gold tournament at Cotai Arena in Macau.
The unbeaten 26-year-old professional (11-0-0, seven KOs) will make the second defence of his WBC ABCO Asia continental super-flyweight title, and also be out to grab the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific super-flyweight title when he faces Japan's Mako Matsuyama (7-7-1, three KOs) over 10 rounds on February 22.
"The WBO title is one step closer to a [possible] world title. He will be guaranteed a top-15 ranking in the World Boxing Organisation [WBO] if he wins," said Tso's trainer and manager Jay Lau Chi-yuen. "He's ranked 12th on the WBC [World Boxing Council] rankings."
I am excited to be fighting for two titles and I will make sure that I will be in my best shape. It motivates me more to train hard
"The WBO is one of the world's big-four boxing organisations and the title would be a step higher than the WBC title he holds. The WBO Asia Pacific vice-president [Leon Panoncillo] actually proposed that Rex fight for this title because they want Hong Kong and Chinese boxers to hold the belt," he said.
Lau said Tso had signed a one-fight deal with Bob Arum's Top Rank organisation and they would try to negotiate a better deal after the February fight.
"Top Rank wanted Rex to sign for four fights this year but all those fights are away from Hong Kong. We thought it would be better to have Rex fight twice a year in Hong Kong to better promote the sport here," said Lau.
"Top Rank wants Rex to fight in Macau, Singapore and even Las Vegas but we need a couple of fights in Hong Kong as well because otherwise we won't be able to produce more Hong Kong fighters and expand our stable."