THE camp of Vincent Astrolabio were clear on their intentions on why they're in Tokyo, Japan.
The compact Filipino entourage declared that they're coming for the WBC bantamweight crown of reigning champion Junto Nakatani and vowed to return to the Philippines bringing with them the shining championship belt no matter what the odds are.
“Hindi kami pumunta rito para matalo,” Astrolabio's head trainer Nonoy Neri said during the final presser for the 12-round title bout Saturday at the Kokugikan National Sumo Arena.
“Dadalhin namin ang belt pabalik sa Pilipinas.”
Confident words indeed, as the 27-year-old challenger is a heavy underdog against the undefeated Japanese champion.
Photo: Wendell Alinea
Nakatani, 26, packs a perfect record of 27-0 with 20 KOs. He won the WBC version of the 118-pound crown with a methodical sixth round TKO of Mexican Alexandro Santiago last February.
He is also the no. 10 boxer in the world’s pound-for-pound list who won three titles in three weight divisions in a four-year span.
But Astrolabio, the Filipino Asero who has a record of 19-4 (14 KOs) remains unperturbed in his crack for a second world championship.
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