If Zou Shiming is one of the most important figures in promoting boxing in China, Jay Lau Chi-yuen would be another. Lau is the promoter of Rex Tso Sing-yu (15-0), who would fight on the undercard this Saturday in Cotai Arena. If Tso wins, he will move into the WBA (World Boxing Association) international top five. Tso's next fight will be against Japanese boxer Kohei Kono - current WBA super flyweight world champion.

It is a surprise even to Lau that Tso manages to draw as many as 4,000 fans from Hong Kong to watch him fight in Macao, helping to fill the 15,000-seat Cotai Arena.

Since 2006, Lau has spent a couple of years traveling around the world meeting members of all those boxing sanctioning bodies - the IBF, WBA, WBO, WBC, traveling to Asia's biggest boxing countries - Japan, the Philippines, before he persuaded Top Rank to let Tso fight in Macao.

Lau said that when he decided to develop professional boxing in Hong Kong, it was simply out of wanting to pay the mortgage on his house and take care of his family. It was only in recent years that he realized that professional boxing was show biz and with that revelation he decided he could make boxing work.

"Carl Moretti (vice-president of Top Rank) says to me almost every time we meet, 'you're an accident.' Because I know (Top Rank) just wanted to promote Zou, but they didn't expect Tso to become so popular in Hong Kong," said Lau.

Lau also hinted that Top Rank is interested in signing Tso and promote him to a bigger crowd. "Carl joked with me - like the Godfather - we're all fans of The Godfather. He said, 'I will make you an offer you can't refuse.'" Lau said, declining to reveal more.

Brad Jacobs, event producer of Top Rank, described Tso as "a terrific personality which is displayed in the ring and outside the ropes." "We believe Rex Tso has the potential not only to win a world title but to defend that championship for a long time. We intend to work with Rex so he can fight for a world title and build his brand in Macao, Hong Kong and beyond," he said.

Tso's success has attracted local fashion brands. He's already become a fashion icon. Last September, Tso was one of 11 Men of the Year selected by JMEN magazine. Even Lau has turned himself into a fashion plate. During an interview with China Daily last year, he was in T-shirt. When he met with us this year, he was wearing a sharkskin jacket and sunglasses.

"That's part of the culture of boxing, there is fashion element. Muay Thai wouldn't promote it, nor MMA - they're too violent and don't fit the image. Professional boxing is show business, while amateur boxing is a total sport. If we don't make it as a show, we won't make money, sponsorship won't come, boxing will not survive," said Lau.

(HK Edition 03/05/2015 page7)