VINCENT Astrolabio travels to Japan in search for that elusive world title.
The hard-punching Filipino nicknamed 'Asero' continues to seek fame and fortune as he vies for the WBC bantamweight crown against undefeated champion Junto Nakatani.
Astrolabio’s compact team that includes trainer Nonoy Neri arrived in Tokyo the other day and held a media workout Wednesday at the Teiken boxing gym.
The 27-year-old native of Cotabato Del Sur will be vying for a world championship for the second time around.
He previously lost against Jason Moloney via majority decision for the vacant WBO bantamweight crown last May 2023 in Stockton, California.
Sporting a 19-4 record with 14 knockouts, Astrolabio earned a shot at a second world title attempt when he scored an 11th round TKO of Nawaphon Kaikanha of Thailand in their title eliminator match at the end of 2023 in Bangkok.
He was supposed to fight then reigning title holder Alexandro Santiago, but the Mexican champion lost to Nakatani in six rounds (TKO) last February in Tokyo to yield the crown.
The Filipino is the obvious underdog against the champion, whose record stands at 27-0 with 20 KOs.
Nakatani is regarded as one of the Top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world today and previously reigned as champion at flyweight and super-flyweight.
The Japanese champion has beaten five of his previous Filipino opponents, including former world champion Mila Melindo. His other victims include Giemel Magramo, Philip Luis Cuerdo, Dexter Alimento, and Joel Taduran.
Astrolabio hopes to break the Filipino fighters’ jinx against the Japanese champion.
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