Boxing in Hong Kong: A Renaissance in the Sweet Science Rex Tso
Christopher KL Lau
Amongst all the sports in Hong Kong, boxing is presently on an upward curve. This is undoubtedly due to the success of one of the most popular athletes in Hong Kong at this moment, Rex Tso Sing Yu. The super-flyweight is a southpaw who, from humble beginnings, has fought his way to the top and won several titles including the WBO Asia Pacific Super Flyweight and WBO International Super Flyweight title.
His story resonates with many people in Hong Kong as he tends to come across as a very ordinary person who has worked very hard for all that he has achieved in terms of his sporting achievements and titles. For all its perceived financial well-being, Hong Kong tends to lack many truly authentic homegrown heroes. Thus many have taken to Tso as a genuine sporting role-model who has gained acclaim across the Asia-Pacific for his boxing prowess and skills.
In his twenty two professional bouts as a super flyweight, he has remained unbeaten. In his last professional fight in October 2017, against the Japanese boxer Kohei Kono, he suffered extreme swelling in one of his eyes yet still retained his title on a points decision. Tso's eye injury was serious, so he took over one year to fully recover, before he returned. This past November 30th, to his many fans' delight, he made his come-back at the Ultimate Extreme Fight (UEF 2018) exhibition fight at the legendary Wan Chai Southorn stadium
Jackie Tang Pak Kit, vice chairman of the Hong Kong Boxing Association and CEO of Fit Together Fitness spoke about the popularity of boxing in Hong Kong and the influence that Rex Tso has had on the sport.
"A long time ago, boxing was very popular but in the last twenty years, there has been a reduction in interest. However due to Rex Tso, it is more popular then before. Rex Tso is a positive role model as he represents hard-work and he is very genuine. He practiced and practiced and now he is successful."
"I once asked how how he became so good and he just said hard-work and more hard-work is what is needed as it provides results. Rex has gotten boxing noticed and more people are aware of sports in general now so more people have taken up sports."
Rex Tso won his three round fight against Chiang Yi Hung and then vowed to remain as an amateur and compete for Hong Kong in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Japan. Jackie Tang also gave his view on Rex Tso's comeback appearance.
"Rex was good but he was at fifty percent as he had not boxed for one year. He needs to fight more to get back to the right level."
Hong Kong, a city sometimes in dire need of role models as well as heroes, will no doubt support Tso all the way to Japan as he seeks to fulfil his Olympic dreams.
For more information on the Hong Kong Boxing Association, go to www.hkboxing.org.hk
For more information on Fit Together Fitness, go to www.fit2together.com
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