MANILA – Vincent Astrolabio pulled off the biggest win of his young boxing career. He decisioned Guillermo Rigondeaux for the WBC International bantamweight title on Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines) at the Dubai Marina in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
It was a sweet escape for the General Santos City native against the former world champion, with all the scores pretty close – 95-94, 95-94, 95-94, all in favor of the Filipino fighter.
The difference maker for Astrolabio in the tight 10-round match was in the eighth round. The Filipino send Rigondeaux to the canvas with right straight to the head and left hook to the body.
“This was a big opportunity for me and I am very much thankful,” Astolabio said. “I want to thank those who believed in me, my trainers, my promoters and fans. I am dedicating this win to them.”
With the win, Astrolabio hikes his record to 17-3-0 win-loss-draw, with 12 victories by way of stoppages, while Rigondeaux saw his record dropped to 20-3-0, including 13 knockout victories.
Over at Las Vegas, Nevada, Jerwin Ancajas was unseated as IBF super flyweight champion in a stunning, one-sided unanimous decision loss to Argentinian Fernando Daniel Martinez on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines).
The Panabo City, Davao del Norte native was outclassed and outperformed by the heavily underdog Martinez to surrender his world championship via 117-111, 118-110, 118-110 defeat.
Ancajas, who was making his 10th title defense against the inexperienced Martinez, was the aggressor early as he repeatedly scored with left hooks to the body and the head in the first three round.
Martinez even suffered a slight cut just over his left eye after an accidental head-butt but it fueled him as he continued to force his way inside of Ancajas and score with short left uppercuts and left hooks.
Martinez’s best round came at the ninth where he landed 40 punches many were power shots, including the hard left hooks followed by right hands on Ancajas.
With the loss, the 30-year-old Ancajas saw his record dropped to 33-2-2 win-loss-draw, including 22 stoppage victories, while the 30-year-old Martinez stayed unbeaten with 14-0-0 slate, with eight wins via stoppages./PN
