TSO BEATS MAEKAWA IN A RING WAR, TWO UNDERCARD PINOYS WIN
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 09 Oct 2016
HONG KONG ? Rex Tso and Ryuto Maekawa gave the sell-out crowd an evening to remember as they traded punch for punch until the final bell. Tso, the ?Wonder Kid? from Hong Kong had the fans on his side but the visiting Japanese fighter gave them something to worry about when he caught Tso with hard shots in the second round.
Tso however fought back and they traded heavy bombs at close quarters in the subsequent rounds. In the sixth, Tso had his best round when he had Maekawa reeling from several hooks to the head. But the Japanese did not back down despite visibly bleeding from the mouth in the seventh.
Tso continued to build an edge in terms of punches landed and was in better shape for the endgame. The action remained intense as Maekawa kept plodding forward and tried to match Tso?s punch output. But Tso continued to tag him and in the final round, Tso?s reestablished his jab and kept Maekawa from making a last ditch effort.
The scorecards read ? Danrex Tapdasan and Surat Soikrachang ? 98-92, Sungworn Klungboonkrung ? 99-91. The referee was Sawaeng Thaweekoon.
Tso captured the vacant WBO International super flyweight title and retained his WBC Asia super flyweight title.
This was Maekawa?s first loss, he drops to 11-1-1, 7KO?s while Tso goes up to 20-0, 12 KO?s
This fight served as the main event for ?Battle of Victors? held October 8 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Supervising for the World Boxing Organization was WBO Asia-Pacific chief Leon Panoncillo while Damrong Simakajornboon of Thailand represented the World Boxing Council. Top Rank chairman Bob Arum for this fight promoted by DEF Promotions in partnership with Top Rank.
Tso spent four weeks in the Philippines in Rex ?Wakee? Salud?s gym in Cebu City to prepare for this fight. He had a chance to spar with WBO world bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales.
Tso?s trainer is a Filipino, Jake Verano, who spoke to this writer after the fight. He was pleased with Tso?s gutsy win but had reservations.
?We did not have a long time to prepare and I was worried. His legs were getting weak and his lateral movement was affected. But I told him to juts block the shots.? Verano said. ?It was good thing his opponent got tired and did not move around.?
PINOY BOXERS SCORE TWO OUT OF THREE:
Jay ?Rapido? Solmiano and Rey Megrino came up with stunning knockout wins on the undercard.
Solmiano used a hard left uppercut to the abdomen to knockout Thai Chaloemporn Sawatsuk at 2:18 of the opening round. Sawatsuk also complained of severe pain on his left shoulder when he got up, a possible dislocation when he fell to the canvas.
Solmiano is a former Philippine lightweight and WBO Asia-Pacific champion and is now based in Hong Kong.
Megrino scored a dramatic one-punch KO against Indonesian Jason Butar-butar.The fight was fought on even terms with both boxers taking turns hurting each other. But in the fifth round a lightning overhand right sent Butar-butar crashing to the canvas and he was counted out at the 52 second mark.
The scores of two judges were even prior to the stoppage and one judge had the Indonesian ahead.
The third Filipino, Jerope Mercado lost to Australian Paul Fleming by TKO in the second round in the main undercard bout. A quick left sent Mercado down and he turned his back to Referee Danrex Tapdasan when he got up, prompting the stoppage at the 2:04 mark.
For the other supporting matches:
Raymond Poon KaiChing (Hong Kong) beat Pakpoom Hammarach (Thailand) by TKO in the third round. The Thai was knocked down in the second and twice in the third by hard left hooks.
Pak Ho Lai (Hong Kong) won by unanimous decision over Weng Son Nong (Macao). Scores ? 40-36, 39-37,39-37.
Tom Taw, a British boxer based in Hong Kong, beat Marco Tuhumury (Indonesia) also by unanimous verdict. All three judges had it 40-36.
In an exhibition four rounder Surez Gurung (Nepal) beat James Gibbs (Australia) by TKO in the opening round.
World famous ring announcer Lupe Contreras was also on hand. The fights were officiated by the Professional Commission Boxing (PBC), International.
Photo: Rex Tso thanking his fans inside the ring after his win.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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