Tough fight: Hong Kong’s ‘Wonder Kid’ Rex Tso to face stiff competition for world title bout
Unbeaten super flyweight will travel to Tokyo to stake his case as he eyes Kohei Kono’s WBA title, but two Japanese fighters are also waiting in the wings
Rex Tso Sing-yu’s hopes of fighting WBA champion Kohei Kono in December just got tougher after two other top Japanese boxers threw their hat in the ring.
Tso will travel to Tokyo on Monday with his manager, Jay Lau Chi-yuen and strength and conditioning trainer, Jake Verano, to support Kono in the Japanese’s next fight against Panama’s Luis Concepcion, scheduled for Wednesday. Hong Kong’s “Wonder Kid” will try to sway Japanese promoters to make the Kono-Tso showdown happen in Tokyo on December 31.
That December clash depends on many factors, including whether Kono (32-8-1) can successfully defend his WBA title against the 30-year-old Concepcion (34-4-0) in their mandatory fight at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo. The bout was ordered because the WBA wanted to consolidate their world champions with regular champion Kono challenging interim champ Concepcion for one unification title.
Tso, the 29-year-old unbeaten super flyweight (19-0-0, 12 KOs), was hoping to sign a contract with Kono immediately after the 35-year-old Japanese veteran retains his title. But the picture has become more complicated with two aspiring Japanese boxers also wanting a piece of the action.