Astrolabio ready to rumble

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino challenger Vincent Astrolabio won’t leave anything to chance in a bold bid to dethrone undefeated WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani in a scheduled 12-round bout at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo tomorrow night. He’s got a fight plan all laid out and if it’s executed to precision, the heavily-favored Nakatani will get the shock of his life.

“Si Asero ang mauuna,” said Astrolabio’s coach and trainer Nonoy Neri, referring to the fighter by his nickname which means steel. “Maaga matatapos at mahaba na ang eight rounds. Pero ‘di namin hahanapin ang knockout. Basta maraming suntok kada round, darating na lang ang knockout. Napag-aralan namin ang style ni Nakatani. Kaliwete siya, tatapon ng right jab tapos aatras at doon namin susugurin. Malakas ang kaniyang overhand left hook, iiwasan ni Asero ‘yan at iikot siya sa kanan ni Nakatani. Babantayan namin ang kaniyang right at left uppercut. Timing ang kailangan. Pagtamaan ni Asero ng solid, babagsak si Nakatani.”

MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons, who arrived in Tokyo from Las Vegas last Wednesday, said he’s not worried about the judges. “I’m not concerned about the scoring because the Japanese are very fair,” he said. “Besides, if Astrolabio wins, it’ll be by knockout.”

Astrolabio and Neri landed in Tokyo last Monday night with traveling companions Vincent Dayagonon and Aries Buenavidez. “Makikipagsabayan si Asero,” said Neri. “Sa media workout, nilapitan ako ni (Japanese promoter) Mr. (Akihiko) Honda at impressed siya sa bilis, lakas at katawan ni Asero. Handang-handa na siya. Noong nag-work out kami sa Teiken Gym, hangang-hanga mga nanood. Best shape of his life si Asero, malikot, maliksi, malakas, bilis ng galaw ng paa, kamay at ulo. Kukunin namin ang korona ni Nakatani.”

It won’t be easy dethroning the Japanese who held the WBO flyweight and superflyweight titles before wresting the WBC bantamweight crown from Mexico’s Alejandro Santiago on a sixth round stoppage in Tokyo last February. Nakatani’s record is 27-0, with 22 KOs and his knockout victims include Filipinos Gemiel Magramo, Milan Melindo, Philip Cuerdo, Dexter Alimento, Jeonil Borres and Joel Taduran. In Nakatani’s corner will be the late WBC superfeatherweight champion Genaro Hernandez’ brother Rudy who has honed the Japanese’s skills since he was 15. Nakatani, 26, is a year younger than Astrolabio who checks in with a record of 19-4, including 14 KOs.