Rex Tso lets world title chance slip through his fingers as Donnie Nietes lands all-Filipino fight with Aston Palicte
Hong Kong’s Wonder Kid should have been fighting for the WBO super flyweight world title but instead two Filipinos will get the chance for glory in August
It was supposed to have been Rex Tso Sing-yu’s defining moment, but circumstances have changed and Filipinos Donnie Nietes and Aston “Mighty” Palicte will now fight for the vacant WBO super flyweight title in August.
Tso was offered the chance to fight Palicte six months ago – or to at least begin negotiations with him through his promoter, the legendary Roy Jones Jnr – but the 30-year-old unbeaten Hong Kong superstar turned down the chance of a lifetime to focus on recovering from an eye injury sustained in his last victory against former WBA world champion Kohei Kono in October.
Nietes and Palicte have reached an agreement in principle to fight in Cebu City, the Philippines on August 18 and according to reports, the pair are very close to sealing a deal.
Tso had been trying to earn a world title shot for at least five years but is unlikely to return to the ring any time soon after being advised by doctors to rest for another three to six months to give his left eye time to fully heal.
