Vincent Astrolabio Rumored to Return in December IBF Eliminator
One of the more ‘under the radar’ upsets of 2022 took place on February 26 when Filipino Vincent Astrolabio (17-3-2, 12 KOs) defeated ex-unified junior featherweight and two-division world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (20-3, 13 KOs).
After coming on during the last half of the contest, a knockdown he scored in round eight was the difference as the bout went his way by one point on all three scorecards. The victory has elevated him in the world rankings (#4 WBO, #7 IBF, #11 WBC) in the bantamweight division.
Rigondeaux was one of the top fighters of 118 and 122 for the last decade. Following a victory over such a mainstay in the lower-weight divisions, what’s the future for Astrolabio?
WHAT COULD BE DOWN THE LINE?
Word on the street is that the 25-year-old from General Santos City is in line for an IBF bantamweight eliminator against Nikolai Potapov (23-2-1, 11 KOs), who is ranked #3 by the IBF. The fight could happen possibly sometime in December.
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
Astrolabio is an aggressive fighter with good power in both hands. Against Rigondeaux, he also showed a dogged determination and spirit as he kept plugging away after losing the early rounds.
He’s had his share of struggles in his career, losing three out of five fights from December 2017 to December 2018. However, he put the pieces back together and won his last five contests. Inching closer to achieving his dream, Astrolabio is hungry to become the next in the boxing-crazed country of the Philippines to become a world champion.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
