26 Tuesday, August 2, 2016

‘Wonder Kid’Kevin Cheng and Yupina Ng

The biggesT evenT in world sport, the Olympic Games, kicks off in Rio de Janeiro this week and one of Hong Kong’s leading professional athletes

wishes he could lace up the gloves for a shot at a gold medal.

The rags-to-riches story of boxer Rex Tso Sing-yu is not new to Hongkongers, but it’s one that keeps winning over their hearts.

Since turning professional in 2011, he has fought 19 times, and dispatched of all of his opponents without a loss. And now, he is on the brink of becoming Hong Kong’s first boxing world champion.

But as the Olympics fever again grips the world, “The Wonder Kid” can’t help but think about his Olympic dream.

“My heart wants the [Olympics]. I’ve had this idea in my head,” he says at DEF Boxing gym in Sheung Wan.

But as the 29-year-old explains over the “thud, thud, thud” of punching bags in the background, his Olympic dream will probably never be realized.

“Your ranking in professional boxing would be eliminated if you join the Olympics. I really hope I can win the world championship in professional boxing. So, I have to start over again if take part in one Olympics,” he says, adding that Hongkongers are more likely to respect an Olympic gold than a world championship belt.

Dubbed “The Wonder Kid” soon after he turned professional, there is no flashy persona or swagger about Tso. He’s dressed casually in typical work-out gear before his daily training at DEF Boxing.

Blessed with a huge grin, and an even bigger laugh, the puncher has clearly not let the fame get to his head.

But a part of him will always wonder “what if?” when it comes to the Olympics.

“I regret that I didn’t seize the opportunity and train when I was boxing as an amateur,” he says. “If, back then, I trained like what I do now, I may have a chance at the Olympics … who knows?”

Born to a working class family where boxing runs in the family blood, Tso was quite simply, just another kid from Tuen Mun. He was a kid who dropped out of high school, and fell into boxing as a teenager – which he didn’t enjoy at first. Since then, he has put Hong Kong on the boxing map.

In May, the super flyweight stopped South Korean Young Gil Bae in the fourth round, retaining his WBC Asian Boxing Council super flyweight belt, as well as the vacant WBO Asia Pacific title.

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, a self-professed fan of Tso, watched ringside and embraced Tso after the fight. Amid rumors that

Tsang is preparing to make a run for the chief executive’s post in next year’s elections, Tso says he will support the SAR’s chief manager of economics if he decides to run.

“I will [back him]. Because he is willing to try to understand other people. I think this will help,” he explains. “I think not only of boxing, but also of many other sports. I think there will be more ways out for others. Because people in the past do not count sports as a career, I will think, [he] may be able to change this view.”

Tso also thinks of the bigger picture – not just boxing – when he talks about inspiring local youth. He says part of the problem in Hong Kong lies with the hectic lifestyle, and the lofty expectations

– usually academic – from parents.

“I also think many parents do not dare let their children go into the unknown. Aside from parents, all kinds of people – when they face new [situations] they are unfamiliar with – have fear as initial reaction,” Tso says. “They may be afraid their children might encounter something bad, which is based on their imagination, so they refuse [to let their children try].”

Tso says more “Wonder Kids” may be out there, but they simply do not have a chance to shine.

“Many students are [studying] because of their parents’ demands,” he says. “So, sometimes, students may not really want to study but their parents want them to. This is also the case when I was small.

“I am not saying that studying is bad. It is good that some people can study well and get a good career. But it is a waste of time to exert force on some people, like me, who completely lost interest in studying. Maybe they have an alternative.”

Professionally, Tso is evenly poised and patiently waiting for a shot at a world title. In his private life, Tso is also at peace, marrying his long-term girlfriend last year.

“I spend more time with her since we

moved in together. Unlike before, I had to squeeze a little time for her in between training and resting at home,” he said.

Tso explains that he no longer commutes constantly around Hong Kong since moving in with his wife, enabling him to focus on his boxing.

“I have more time to relax. When we hadn’t lived together before, I boxed on Hong Kong Island, she lived in Kowloon and I lived in the New Territories. So I went to Kowloon daily for her … then I went back home. It’s basically travelling around Hong Kong.”

Moving in with his wife has also done wonders for his diet – something that has irked Tso, an avid foodie, in the past.

“I eat everything,” Tso says with a grin, as he rattles off his favorite food, including burgers, pizza and Korean fried chicken.

“My diet has been healthier since [we got married], which also made it easier for me to lose weight. I did not have enough time before and I dined out before getting married,” Tso says.

“Now I can cook at home. My wife also looks up recipes that are good for athletes.”

She has also taken a more active interest in his boxing career, even pointing out where he has improved, Tso says with a laugh.

“She is into boxing more and more. She can tell in what way I have improved … Accuracy in punching. And I am better in taking advantage of opportunities. For example, I used to retreat after attacking the opponent. But now, I would keep on attacking,” Tso says.

After being married for just over a year,

does he want to have children soon? “I want to. But it is hard to say when. I also

want to focus on the fight. But I am also afraid it would be too late to start after the fight,” he says.

Even in Hong Kong, where sports stars are few and far between, more and more Hongkongers are recognizing Tso on the street.

“The first reaction of many people was like ‘oh you are so tiny.’ Some would say ‘can I grab your muscles,’’’ Tso says.

“Some even ask ‘can you punch me?’’’As Tso readies for his shot at history, which he

admits pressures him a lot being Hong Kong’s first professional fighter, he believes part of his job lies outside the boxing ring, specifically in the hearts and mind of Hong Kong youth.

“Yes, I think there ought to be a role model [for boxing and young people]. Just like, in the past, when I had no example to follow – I didn’t know what to do. If I can be their example, then they will know there is a way out,” he says.

“Because people in the past never dared to try.”

If I can be their example, then they will know there is a way out … people in the past never

dared to try

Rex Tso lands a punch in his win against Young Gil Bae, as he celebrates with John Tsang. AP

chases history

YUPINA NG

YUPINA NG