TSO AND KONO MAKE WEIGHT
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 06 Oct 2017
HONG KONG- Local hero Rex Tso (21-0,13KO?s) is set for his biggest challenge when he squares off against Japanese Kohei Kono (33-10-1,14KO?s) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center on October 7.
Both weighed in at the division limit of 115 lbs during the official weigh-in held Friday at the Olympian City.
Kono, a former two time WBA world super flyweight champ, is 36 year old. He won the WBA title in 2012 against Thai Panthep Mullipoom (Tepparith Kokietgym) by fourth round knockout but he lost in his first defense to Venezuelan Liborio Solis by majority decision.
Kono would win the title again in 2014, against another Thai, Sutep Wangmuk (Dengkaosan Kaovichit) by 8th round KO. After three defenses, he lost to Panamanian Luis Concepcion by unanimous decision.
Four months after losing his WBA belt in 2016, Kono got a shot at the WBO world super flyweight title but he lost to countryman Naoya Inoue by 6th round TKO. Last July, Kono got back on the winning track by beating Yuranan Dokrathok by 5th round TKO.
Tso, a 30 year old unbeaten southpaw, is a WBO International titleholder. He is listed as number two in the 115lb rankings of the WBO where Naoya Inoue is the reigning champion. Tso has been performing to sell-out crowds here in Hong Kong where he has a very loyal fan base. He has beaten Japanese fighters in his last two bouts ? Ryuto Maekawa (UD10) and Hirofumi Mukai (KO8). Tso?s WBO International belt will be on the line in this fight.
Face to face Kohei Kono (left) and Rex Tso.
Li Leshan (China) vs Takuya Watanabe (Japan) for WBO Oriental
jr.lightweight title.
Ayumi Goto of Japan on the scales with PBC Referee Danrex
Tapdasan holding the WBO female Asia-Pacific jr.featherweight belt.
The vacant WBO Oriental super featherweight title will be at stake in the main supporting bout between Japan?s Takuya Watanabe (37-7-1,17KO?s) and China?s Li Leshan (13-2-1,8KO?s).
Both boxers stepped on the scales at 130lbs.
There will be a female regional battle between Japanese Ayumi Goto (7-0,5KO?s) and Kirti (3-0,2Ko?s) of India for the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific super bantamweight female title. Goto was at the division limit of 122lbs while Kirti was two pounds lighter.
For the rest of the undercards ? Raymond Poon (Hong Kong) will face Indonesian Frenky Rohi ? 6 rounds. Poon was at 108lbs, Rohi at 105lbs.
Nick Frese, a Dutch boxer based in Thailand will be pitted against Prabhjot Singh, an Indian who is based and fighting in the Philippines. They are penned for six rounds. Both fighters weighed 147lbs.
Tom Taw (Hong Kong) vs Odisorn Kesronsombat (Thailand) ? four rounds. Both stepped on the scales at 160lbs.
Nibesh Ghale, a Nepalese based in Hong Kong will fight Filipino veteran Prell Tupas in a four rounder.Both were identical at 139lbs.
In the other all-female match-up, Hong Kong?s Sandy Lam will be pitted against Nadya Nakhoir of Indonesia in the opening four rounder. Lam and Nakhoir weighed 105lbs.
The card billed as CLASH OF CHAMPIONS III is promoted by DEF Promotions and Top Rank. The fights will be officiated by the Professional Boxing Commission (PBC) of China. Supervising for the World Boxing Organization is WBO VP for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo.
PHOTO 1 HEADER - Kohei Kono (left) and Rex Tso flank PBC judge Robert Hoyle with the WBO International super flyweight belt.
Photo 2 - Face to face Kohei Kono (left) and Rex Tso
Photo 3 - Ayumi Goto of Japan on the scales with PBC Referee Danrex Tapdasan holding the WBO female Asia-Pacific jr.featherweight belt
Photo 4- Li Leshan (China) vs Takuya Watanabe (Japan) for WBO Oriental jr.lightweight title
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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