Vincent Astrolabio (left) could fight Guillermo Rigondeaux next month. WBO, AFP FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines—Filipino boxer Vincent Astrolabio stunned former two-division world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, taking an unanimous decision in their bantamweight contest Saturday (Manila time) at Dubai Marina in the United Arab Emirates.
Astrolabio earned the nod of all three judges as they scored the bout 95-94 for the General Santos City native.
While it was a close fight, Astrolabio managed to outwork Rigondeaux in the latter stages of the 10-round fight and even sending the Cuban to the mat in the eighth with a quick 1-2.
Astrolabio’s efforts against Rigondeaux was the first time the 41-year-old touched the ground since his 2014 barnburner against Hisashi Amagasa when he got knocked down twice in the seventh round of their super bantamweight title fight for the WBA Super and WBO titles.
Rigondeaux tried to elude Astrolabio throughout the final two rounds but never displayed any urgency to turn things around and get into the offensive.
The win was Astrolabio’s (17-3) fifth straight victory and the first one in that winning streak that needed the judges’ cards.
Rigondeaux (20-3), meanwhile, dropped to his second consecutive defeat after losing in a close split decision contest to WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero.