Rex Tso bout sold out - 1,800 tickets snapped up for 'Night of Champions II' in Wan Chai
'Wonder Kid' is big drawcard to battle Aussie southpaw Brad Hore in front of home supporters
Hong Kong star Rex Tso Sing-yu has more incentive to keep his unblemished record intact this month with his latest fight a sell-out more than three weeks before he returns to the ring.
Organisers of "Night of Champions II" said all 1,800 tickets for the August 29 extravaganza at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai had been snapped up within days of going on sale.
Rex is excited that he will return to the ring in Hong Kong and fight in front of his many fans. We are all pleased that it's going to be a full house
It will be the first time in more than two years that southpaw Tso will have fought in front of a home crowd, having made his mark in neighbouring Macau.
The "Wonder Kid" has forged an impressive 17-0-0 record and the 28-year-old is heavily favoured to beat Australia's Brad Hore in the main event of the local showpiece, which will feature at least seven bouts.
"All tickets were sold out within a week of going on sale. In fact, they were sold out last week," said Tso's trainer and manager, Jay Lau Chi-yuen. "Rex is excited that he will return to the ring in Hong Kong and fight in front of his many fans. We are all pleased that it's going to be a full house."
Tso has been training hard for the 10-round mandatory bout for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Asian super flyweight title and declared himself in "good shape" as he tries to move closer to a future world title bout.
"I have been increasing the number of sparring rounds from six to eight and soon it will be 10 rounds, and everything has been going great," said Tso, who owns several belts including the WBA international flyweight title.
"I hear my opponent [Hore] has been training hard for this as well. It will be an interesting battle between two lefties," he said.
"Pocket Rocket" Hore, who hails from Caloundra, Queensland, is also a southpaw and like Tso, is an aspiring professional who hopes to one day become world champion.
"Rex will be my toughest opponent as a professional," admitted 33-year-old Hore, who is a two-time Olympian having represented his country at the 2000 Sydney Games and 2004 Athens Games as an amateur.
"I heard about Rex three years ago and I know he is very big in Hong Kong and has a good following. This fight is very important to myself and the team. I rate myself very highly and I'm looking forward to this challenge.
"I don't think Rex has fought anyone with my experience so it will be interesting to see the outcome. I can't wait to give a good show for fans in Hong Kong," said Hore, who is 5-1-0 and only turned professional at 31.
"It's going to be difficult with two southpaws fighting, it will be an interesting fight," said the Australian.
"With Rex being ranked in the top 10 in the main three belts [WBO, WBA, IBF] and with a record of 17-0 of course it would skyrocket my ranking," he said.
