This year’s already off to a great start for Rex Tso! As of yesterday, Hong Kong’s undefeated “Wonder Kid” is the top boxer in the World Boxing Organisation’s super flyweight division, making him the first Hong Kong fighter to attain a No. 1 ranking worldwide.
The World Boxing Organisation, or WBO for short, is one of the four major sanctioning bodies in international boxing, which sponsor champion bouts and award titles. Tso, who was previously ranked second in the category, made the top spot after former No. 1, Juan Hernandez of Mexico, began competing in the flyweight division, according to Oriental Daily.
As the top fighter in the super flyweight division, Tso is automatically eligible to challenge the category’s current champion, Japan’s Naoya Inoue, for the title. Inoue, 23, nicknamed “The Monster”, successfully defended his title from former WBA champ and WBO’s No. 10 super flyweight boxer, Kohei Kono.
Tso, who travelled to Japan to watch the fight, said both Inoue and Kono were experienced fighters. “I have the chance to challenge such a worthy and skilled opponent, I have to seize this opportunity,” he told Wen Wei Po.
However, the “Wonder Kid” may instead be competing against No. 2 Hernandez for the title, as Inoue is reportedly considering moving up to the bantamweight division.
It seems like yesterday was Tso’s lucky day, as it was announced that his contract with top US boxing promoter Top Rank would be extended by a year. “It’s taken Rex five years to become the No. 1 ranked fighter, and it’s worth it,” his coach and manager Jay Lau told SCMP.
Tso’s next fight is set to be held at Wan Chai’s Convention and Exhibition Centre on March 11. His opponent will be named on January 22.
