Filipinos Marlon Tapales and Mark Anthony Geraldo get Rex Tso in shape for ‘Clash of Champions 2’

World champion Marlon Tapales and fellow Pinoy Mark Anthony Geraldo provide world-class sparring for ‘Wonder Kid’ ahead of his March 11 bout at sold out Convention and Exhibition Centre

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World champion Marlon Tapales is providing Rex Tso with good workouts at DEF gym in Sheung Wan. Photo: Unus Alladin

Published: 6:06pm, 26 Feb 2017Updated: 6:40pm, 28 Feb 2017

World bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales says Hong Kong’s Rex Tso Sing-yu is giving him solid workouts ahead of his first title defence in April. And the Filipino is reciprocating by getting the “Wonder Kid” also in shape as he prepares for his clash next month.

Tso is getting the best of both worlds, staying in Hong Kong to complete his conditioning ahead of “Clash of Champions 2”, with two top-ranked Filipinos helping him put the finishing touches to his training . Another Filipino, Mark Anthony Geraldo, is also playing a major role in helping Tso reach tip-top shape for the Hong Kong star’s 21st professional bout.

Normally, Tso’s training camp would start and begin in Cebu, the Philippines, where they are an abundance of good sparring partners, but this time, it was decided that two good sparring partners should come to Hong Kong, so that Tso can stay happily at home and have top-notched medical backup at his disposal.

“We are giving each other good sparring sessions. We both need to get into shape for our fights and there’s no better way to do this. Rex is a southpaw just like me, and we enjoy our sparring sessions together. It’s good for Rex and good for me,” said 24-year-old Tapales (29-2-0, 12 KOs), who will fight Japanese Shohei Omori in his first world title defence in Osaka on April 23.

“I can see Rex has really come on and looks well prepared for his fight. If he continues to train hard, he’ll do very well.

Rex Tso spars with Filipino boxer Mark Anthony Geraldo at DEF Boxing in Sheung Wan. Photo: Xiaomei Chen