China's Rex Tso (R) punches Indonesia's Espinos Sabuduring during their super flyweight fight in Macau in November 2014. (Photo : Getty Images)
Hong Kong professional boxer Rex Tso, fighting under Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions, is set to face South Korea's Young Gil-bae in May for an Asian regional super flyweight title fight in his hometown at a still undisclosed venue.
Boxing Scene reported that Arum is currently in Hong Kong to promote the upcoming card and also to announce the three-fight contract he signed with the undefeated Tso (18-0, 10 KOs), who at 28 years old is considered by many boxing pundits as one of the latest promising Asian boxers to watch out this year.
The contract is reportedly an indication that the 84-year-old veteran boxing promoter has already severed his ties with parties in the neighboring resort city of Macau, which has accommodated eight of Top Rank's boxing events during the past three years, including two box-office mega fights that feature eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao against different opponents.
Pacquiao pounded Brandon Rios at the Venetian Macau in November 2013 in a fight card dubbed as "Clash in Cotai" then knocked down Chris Algieri six times a year later at the same venue in the "Clash in Cotai II".
The Tuen Mun, Hong Kong native was part of the undercard of both world title events, defeating Thailand's Susu Sithjadaeng in 2013 via a first round TKO and beating Indonesia's Espinos Sabu in an 8-round unanimous decision victory in 2014.
Arum also revealed his plans for Tso this year, saying that he will pair him with a "high-ranked contender in September" before giving him "a shot at becoming Hong Kong's first boxing world champion in December against the WBA super flyweight champion, currently Japan's Kohei Kono", as per The National.
Arum was all praises to Macau for hosting his promotional company in the past, saying that "we thank Macau for hosting boxing and bringing it on a tremendous basis to this part of the world".
However, he also admitted that "there is not the same appetite for events there (Macau) as in prior years", which is why he and his company are testing Hong Kong as potentially their new boxing venue.
"If you're not going to get that type of support from the casinos in Macau, it is logical to bring the events to where the people are - and that's Hong Kong," Arum added.
