Vincent Astrolabio, a world champ in the making after KO win over Russian foe
5 min readHope is not lost for Philippine boxing with the likes of newly-crowned WBO inter-continental bantamweight champion Vincent Astrolabio who is seen to become a world champion in the making.
The 25-year-old boxer of Manny Pacquaio’s MP Promotions scored a sixth-round knockout victory over 32-year-old Russian Nikolai Potapov at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas on December 18 (Philippine time).
Vincent Astrolabio of the Philippines scores a sixth-round knockout victory over Russian Nikolai Potapov at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas recently. VINCENT DIAZEN ASTROLABIO FACEBOOK
Astrolabio, who hails from General Santos City, now holds an 18-3 record (including 13 knockouts) as a professional boxer.
He got the knockout win he wanted, attributing his trainer Nonoy Neri for the game plan. The latter’s game plan was to surprise Potapov with a barrage of punches to caught him off guard.
Neri said, “I studied Potapov and saw that his punches were more on one twos. We had unexpected punches he did not see coming that were very effective. The moment he jabs we already have a counter and the body shot was important.”
The World-ranked Filipino boxer charged at Potapov in the first round where his right straight on top scored him knockdown but was later ruled out by the referee as a slip.
Vincent Astrolabio of the Philippines scores a sixth-round knockout victory over Russian Nikolai Potapov at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas recently. VINCENT DIAZEN ASTROLABIO FACEBOOK
“I want to knock out my opponent because if I win, a lot of fans in the Philippines will recognize me as a future world champion,” Astrolabio, seeing action in the United States for the first time, said prior to his showdown with the more experienced Russian.
He said that a knockout was the best option as it would have been difficult if the match went into a decision.
Neri said, “I studied Potapov and saw that his punches were more on one-twos. We had unexpected punches he did not see coming that were very effective. The moment he jabs we already have a counter and the body shot was important.”
Astrolabio took to Facebook after his win, thankful for the blessing God has given him.
“Una po sa lahat, nagpasalamat ako sa Panginoon na binigyan niya ako ng lakas at tibay sa aking laban na ito. Thank you so much, Lord sa blessing na binigay mo sakin na itong taon (First of all, I thanked the Lord for giving me strength and endurance in my fight. Thank you so much, Lord, for the blessing you have given me this year),” he said.
He also thanked Sean Gibbons for the big opportunity that the latter gave him and his idol Manny Pacquiao gave him.
Astrolabio also thanked his manager, family, and Mark Magnifico Magsayo Eumir Felix for their support. Magsayo and Olympic bronze medalist Marcial also watched his fight.
The country’s world titleholders lost their belts this year. Thus Astrolabio’s win came as a welcome respite for the string of losses that Filipino boxers suffered in 2022.
Interviewed by Sparring Sessions, veteran sports journalist and analyst Chino Trinidad said that he didn’t doubt Astrolabio’s power, leaving the referee confused about what happened during the first knockdown.
He also looked forward to 2023, saying, “It seems like we can end our world championship drought. Maybe another tough fight then he would be next but since he won the eliminator he is now ready for a world title shot.”
