Aljoe’s latest discovery

Aljoe Jaro has unveiled a new world title prospect in Hong Kong’s Rex Tso Sing-yu and the Binangonan, Rizal, retired fighter – now a successful promoter, manager and trainer – is open to the idea of Top Rank bringing the 26-year-old bantamweight to the US for the opportunity to upgrade his career.

Jaro was in Tso’s corner when the unbeaten diamond-in-the-rough demolished Thailand’s Susu Sithjadaeng at 2:29 of the first round in a scheduled sixer in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Brandon Rios mainer at the jampacked Cotai Arena inside the Venetian Resort Hotel in Macau last Sunday morning. A photo of Jaro embracing Tso after the win was published in last Monday’s issue of the South China Morning Post. Tso is widely known as Hong Kong’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer.

Jaro’s first world titlist was Sonny Boy Jaro but his reign as WBC flyweight champion was short-lived, ending in his first defense. Last June, Jaro’s marquee protégé Denver Cuello took on WBC minimumweight king Xiong Zhao Zhong in Dubai and lost a majority 12-round verdict. Cuello entered the ring with a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. He pushed through with the fight despite the injury, fearing the chance might not come again since Zhong had long ducked him. It was a huge risk and for a while, the gamble looked like it would pay off as Cuello floored Zhong in the first round. But as the fight wore on, it was clear Cuello wouldn’t be able to win with just one arm.

Last July, Cuello underwent surgery to repair the damage in his shoulder. Dr. Beng Javier’s operation was successful and now, Cuello is looking forward to a comeback fight in February, a tune-up for another world title crack. He has been stricken off the WBC’s top 40 ratings temporarily because of his medical condition. Jaro said as soon as Cuello gets back on the winning track, he hopes the WBC reinstate him in the top 10 and give him a chance to avenge the defeat to Zhong.

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This Saturday, Zhong is set to defend the WBC crown against a Thai challenger who is a late replacement for Tanzanian native Omari Kimweri. It was only the other day when Kimweri’s withdrawal was confirmed because of passport problems. Kimweri, 31, was one of 19 athletes who defected to seek political asylum in Australia during the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. He hid in a tobacco plantation before surfacing to reveal his intention not to return to Tanzania. The 4-11 fighter is ranked No. 7 by the WBC and has a 13-3 record, with 5 KOs. One of his losses was a first round knockout inflicted by Filipino Ernie Gonzales, Jr. in 2007. The Zhong defense will be held in Maguan, China. Jaro said he will lobby for Cuello to challenge the winner. There are two Thais rated in the WBC top 10 in the 105-pound division, No. 1 Wanheng Menayothin and No. 4 Pigmy Kokietgym.

Cuello said he will resume sparring next month. His weight has gone up to 118 pounds. “I’m now able to do shadow boxing,” he said. “I’ve been doing therapy to strengthen my shoulder but I’m lifting only little by little.”

Cuello said Tso has trained in Jaro’s Binangonan gym for over a year now. “Rex knows how to speak Tagalog, we teach him,” said Cuello. “He’s a very disciplined fighter and very talented.”

Jaro said Tso’s manager Jay Lau Chi-yuen endorsed the fighter to him for polishing last year. Tso turned pro in 2011 and has fought thrice in the country, stopping Aldrin Janer and Jeffrey Pararoja, both in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and outpointing Mabert Paulino in Caloocan. His last two outings were in Macau. Tso’s record is 11-0, with 7 KOs. His most impressive win was over Thai veteran Wandee Singwancha whom he knocked out in four rounds in Hong Kong last May. Wandee was once world-rated and entered the ring with a record of over 80 bouts.

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Chi-yuen recently told Unus Alladin of the South China Morning Post that Top Rank chairman Bob Arum has offered Tso a four-fight deal for next year. Nothing has been finalized and Arum promised to forward details of the contract soon. Tso earned $18,000 for the Susu workout.

“I really don’t know what the contract will call for and whether Rex would need to be based in Los Angeles like Zou (Shiming) and Yang (Lianhui) but it’s a great honor to be approached by the world’s biggest boxing promoter,” said Chi-yuen quoted by Alladin. “It’s something Rex deserves and it will definitely boost his career. Bob told me he was impressed by how much Rex has improved since his last fight in July.” Alladin said, “if Tso signs with Top Rank, it would be a ground-breaking moment for a Hong Kong athlete … he has already signed a deal with Nike and has other endorsements.”

Zhong is China’s first world professional boxing champion. While Tso’s star is definitely on the rise, the most popular Chinese fighter is Zou who captured the gold medal at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Zou, 32, defeated Mexico’s Juan Toscano in Macau last Sunday with Marvin Somodio and Gavin McMillan in his corner. The win over Toscano improved Zou’s record to 3-0. Zou has not yet scored a knockout.

“My trainer (Freddie Roach) and my strength and conditioning trainer (McMillan) have been working together with me on my strength and power,” said Zou. “I learned a lot from Manny. Hopefully, I will use the things I’ve learned and continue to improve. As a rookie pro, I give myself 80 marks but only 50 percent if I was going for the world title because I still haven’t delivered the knockout punch.”