TSO TAKES ON MUKAI MARCH 11 IN HONG KONG
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 24 Jan 2017
With a future world title shot on his sights, Hong Kong boxing star Rex Tso will risk his belts and lofty world ranking when he squares off against Japanese Hirofumi Mukai at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Center.
The fight billed as ?Clash of Champions II? was officially announced Sunday with the protagonists meeting during the press conference. Tso (20W-0L,12KO?s) is the current WBO international and WBC Asia super flyweight titlist while Mukai (13W-4L-3D,3KO?s) holds the WBO Asia Pacific super flyweight belt.
The 29 year old Tso is ranked number one by the WBO. The current WBO world super flyweight champ is unbeaten Naoya Inoue (12-0,10KO?s) of Japan.
The 31 year old Mukai got his WBO regional title last November by second round TKO against Thai Tanawat Phonnaku. Mukai has wins against Filipinos Mark John Yap and Sonny Boy Jaro. His unanimous decision win against Jaro happened a year before the Filipino beat Thailand?s Pongsaklek Wonjongkam for the WBC world flyweight title.
Mukai has experience fighting at the top level. He lost to former world ranked Filipino contenders Rocky Fuentes and Mark Anthony Geraldo. He also fought for the WBC world super flyweight title in 2013 but lost to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (Wisaksil Wangek) by TKO in the ninth round. In 2011, his first world title shot ended in the opening round after a clash of heads against the then reigning WBC flyweight champ Wonjongkam inflicted a cut on Mukai which lead to a technical draw.
Tso?s last fight was a hard fought unanimous decision victory against another Japanese, Ryuto Maekawa. The southpaw Tso has spent time training at the RWS Gym in Cebu City, Philippines where he has sparred with WBO world bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales.
Professional Boxing Commission (PBC), Intl. Executive Director Samson Iu was on hand during the press conference representing the WBO. DEF Promotions expects a record crowd for this March 11 event.
Top photo: Hong Kong's Rex Tso (left) and Japan's Hirofumi Mukai.
Rex Tso, Hirofumi Mukai with Tso's manager Jay Lau and PBC, Intl Exec. Director Samson Iu.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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