REX “THE WONDER KID” TSO TO FIGHT UNBEATEN JAPANESE IN “BATTLE OF VICTORS”

Rex “The Wonder Kid” Tso (left) of Hong Kong and Ryuto Maekawa of Japan

By LITO DELOS REYES

THE exciting Rex “The Wonder Kid” Tso of Hong Kong will next see action in the “Battle of the Victors” on October 8 in a battle for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) International junior bantamweight title against fellow undefeated boxer Ryuto Maekawa of Japan.

The 29-year old Tso has unbeaten with 19 straight wins and 12 knockouts while Maekawa also has a clean record of 11 wins with 7 Kos and 1 draw.

In his last fight, Tso scored a resounding win against top Korean Young Gil Bae last May 14 via a technical knockout in 2:57 in the fourth round to retain his WBC Asian Boxing Council Super Flyweight title and also captured the WBO Asia Pacific Super Flyweight crown at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

The 20-year old Maekawa, on the other hand, stopped Fillipino Bimbo Nacionales in 1:40 of the first round in his previous fight held March 5 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Maekawa, ranked no. 2 in Asia by the WBO Asia-Pacific is a highly regarded fighter from the fabled Watanabe Gym stable. Maekawa, who is known for his counterpunching and speed is managed by former world champion Yoko Gushiken, who has 13 successful world title defenses to his name.

The Tso-Maekawa championship fight is co-promoted by top Hong Kong boxing promoter DEF Promotions and world-leading boxing promoter Top Rank, Battle of Victors.

It is sponsored in part by Formula Electric Racing Hong Kong Limited, and will be one of the highlights of the FIA Formula E Hong Kong ePrix weekend (October 8-9).

The Battle of Victors is set to be biggest professional boxing event in Hong Kong history with an audience of more than 5,000 and eight scheduled bouts with fighters from Australia, Japan, the UK, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, Hong Kong, and Macau on the fight card.

Also on the card are Rex Tso’s stablemate Raymond Poon, “The Macau Kid” Ng Kuok Kun, and white-collar standout Tom Taw of the UK, who is set to face former Indonesian bantamweight champion Marco Tuhumury.

The Battle of Victors will be the Saturday evening entertainment for the inaugural FIA Formula E Hong Kong ePrix event. The world-class racing event will attract a large number of overseas visitors, and almost all tickets for the two-day racing event are sold out.

Mr Alan Fang, CEO of Formula E Racing Hong Kong Limited, commented on this unique sports-entertainment collaboration, saying, “Our partnership with DEF Promotions and Top Rank reinforces our vision of making the inaugural Formula E HKT Hong Kong ePrix weekend the highlight of Hong Kong’s social and sporting calendar. We are confident that the confluence of world-class sport in this premier fight card and the on-track action at the HKT Hong Kong ePrix will provide a compelling weekend of entertainment for both local and international visitors.”

Top Rank is working with DEF Promotions to organise its second-ever event in Hong Kong, with Battle of Victors marking Top Rank-signed boxer Rex Tso’s milestone 20^th professional bout. Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank said, “I am very pleased to see Rex Tso emerge as a big star in this part of the world. Rex is world-rated and we expect to see Rex continue to succeed and impress in the ring and to become one of the big stars in Asia.”

Tickets for Battle of Victors will be priced at HK$380, HK$580, HK$880, HK$1,280, and HK$1,880, and will be available for sale through HK Ticketing beginning in mid-August.

About Top Rank, Inc.

Las Vegas-based Top Rank, Inc. has nurtured some of boxing’s all-time greats and produced some of its most exciting bouts. Since promoting his first fight for Muhammad Ali in 1966, Top Rank founder and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee CEO Bob Arum has played a major role in positioning Las Vegas as the “Fight Capital of the World”. Top Rank promotes fights across the globe, and its roster includes stars and champions such as Manny Pacquiao, Terence Crawford, Timothy Bradley, Zou Shiming, Vasyl Lomachenko, Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and Nonito ‘Filipino Flash’ Donaire. The company made its first foray in Greater China in April 2012, and has promoted events in Macau, Shanghai, and beginning with Clash of Champions on May 14th, 2016, in Hong Kong.

About the FIA Formula E Championship

Formula E is a ground-breaking FIA championship and the world’s first fully-electric racing series. It represents a vision for the future of the motor industry, serving as a framework for research and development around the electric vehicle, accelerating general interest in these cars and promoting sustainability. Organised by Formula Electric Racing (Hong Kong) Limited, the HKT Hong Kong ePrix is the opening event on the 2016/17 Formula E circuit and will focus the attention of motorsport fans worldwide on Hong Kong for the first major international motorsport race in the city in over 30 years.

About DEF Promotions

DEF Promotions, is the premier combat sports promotion company in Hong Kong. In addition to being the driving force behind professional boxing in Hong Kong, the company is also the representative of Rex “The Wonder Kid” Tso, who has taken professional boxing by storm since his professional debut in September 2011.

Contact information:

Dr. Ken Ho

Director of Marketing and Communications, DEF Promotions

(852) 6437 9552

kenho@def.com.hk

Lee Samuels

Publicist, Top Rank Boxing

+1 702 732 2717

+1 702 378 1083 (mobile)

lee@toprank.com

Gardy Lopez

Social Media Specialist, Top Rank Boxing