Philippines, 10 May 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Rigondeaux, Astrolabio Successful in 30-Day Weight Check Ahead of WBC Int'l Clash in Dubai


PhilBoxing.com





Loving him... or getting completely bored out of him, Cuban Guillermo "El Chacal" Rigondeaux has been in the limelight of boxing since his pro debut in Miami back in 2009; and at 41, he is still willing to lace up the boxing gloves, searching for "action," wanting another shot at the bantamweight world title. Will he get it?

The 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist, 2-division World Champion says to fans "sí, sí se puede," as he proceed forward to complying with the required WBC 30-day weight-check ahead of his coming rumble against younger Filipino slugger Vincent Astrolabio for the vacant WBC International Bantamweight strap on February 26 at the plush Dubai Marina, the artificial canal city in the "City of Gold" Dubai in the United Araba Emirates.

Rigondeaux (20-2, 13 KO's), born in the historic seaside Ciudad de Santiago de Cuba, the awesome island's second largest city, will climb the ring in Dubai to trade blows against hard-swinging Astrolabio (16-3, 12 KO's), a fighter from southern Philippines who preppers for battle at Manny Pacquiao's MP Davao Gym training facility.

During the weight check today, "El Chacal" (The Jackal), tipped the scale at 127.6 pounds, while the Filipino Astrolabio, boxer shorts and a t-shirt weighed-in heavier at 129.8 lbs; both boxers required to come down to 118 pounds for their one-month-away 12 rounder rumble.

The belt in dispute, the WBC International title, is a important one for the the sanctioning body founded in Mexico back in 1963 by initiative of then Mexican president Adolfo López Mateos.

That's why the Rigondeaux-Astrolabio war might as well get the winner with possibilities of a shot at the WBC Bantamweight World Champion Nonito Doanire; and who will the winner be?

Rigondeaux would more than love to battle again popular "Filipino Flash," the star fighter whom Rigo outclassed nearly 9 years ago at the Radio City Music Hall in the Big Apple.

However, Nonito is more interested in a more thrilling, more rewarding, more sensational rematch against former foe, top-10 P4P lister Naoya Inoue, likely in Japan, than another clash against Rigondeaux. Its a no-brainer. If you are Nonito, what would you prefer?

Nonito is a battle-tested warrior who loves action. With Inoue he will sure get it. Against Rigondeaux, will he get it?

Still, Rigondeaux would love for sure: another shot at Nonito. But for that he first needs to deal with the much younger. glory-hungry Filipino slugger with dreams and plans of his own, the fighter who will be with fists clinched, waiting for him in Dubai.

As fans might remember (or perhaps want to forget), Rigondeaux's last presentation was a suffocatingly boring split decision loss to Filipino Johnriel Casimero for the WBO Bantamweight World Title at the Dignity Sports Park in Carson last August, a fight in which the more active Casimero clearly outdid the retrieving, dull Jackal. However, inexplicably for jaw-dropped fans, one of the scorecards went for Rigondeaux; thankfully overruled by the other two tallies.


Astrolabio (L) poses with his trainer Nonoy Neri.

All the while, 17-years younger than the Cuban veteran, Vincent Astrolabio - who hails from boxing-loving General Santos City in the Philippines - intensifies his daily training sessions guided by Pacquiao's former coach Nonoy Neri, the veteran trainer, who, together with Buboy Fernandez and Freddie Roach, prepared the fantastic Pacman throughout his legendary career.

Motivated by the win of his compatriot Mark "Magnifico" Magsayo over Gary Russell Jr. last Saturday in Atlantic City, will Vincent "Asero" Astrolabio outdo himself to emerge victorious from his 12-rounder rumble against the super accomplished Rigondeaux?

Or will the the skills, moves and ring smarts of the veteran Cuban still be there, leading him to comfortably dominate the coming-forward, aggressive slugging fighting style of the 24-year-old Filipino, a young warrior willing to make his mark in the world of boxing?

In the show's co-feature, unbeaten Jenel "Demolition Man" Lausa (10-0-1, 6 KO's) of Iloilo, Philippines, will trade blows against 19-year-old former amateur standout Jadier Herrera (4-0, 4 KO's) of Camaguey, Cuba, for the vacant WBA Asia South Super Featherweight strap.

The show February 26 in Dubai is promoted by Phucan An Nguyen. Matchmaker Brico Santig of Highland Boxing Team.



The author Carlos Costa can be reached at carlos@philboxing.com and whatsapp +639184538152.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Zhu Outguns "The Assassin" Ian Abne in Cebu Thriller, Earns Shot at IBF Champ Taduran
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 10 May 2026
  • Arañas Survives Harsh Knockdown, Stops Noynay to Claim WBF Strap in Cebu (Fist of Fury X Results)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 10 May 2026
  • Mindoro faces strong Mexican opponent
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 10 May 2026
  • Blood, Grit, and Iron: Zhu Outlasts Abne in a Cebu War
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 10 May 2026
  • Tickets ON SALE NOW for Abdullah Mason-Joe Cordina at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center
    , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia bags gold in ASEAN E-Sports chess qualifying round
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Wardley vs Dubois: Heavyweight Tussle in Manchester
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Fireworks Expected as Cebu's Arañas and Noynay Rumble for WBF Silver Belt
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Keyshawn Davis: "Nahir Albright’s Going To Be the Fourth Guy I Stop in a Row!"
    , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Cinco De Mayo, A Historic Celebration Of Boxing
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Abne, Zhu Make Weight for IBF Eliminator in Cebu; Winner Fights Taduran
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • IBA presents stacked fight card for May 21 event in Mexico City
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Laurente to promote amateur boxing
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Heavyweight Gustavo Trujillo Has a New Date Returns May 30 at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Toro Promotions & Whitfield Haydon Officially Announce ‘Sizzling Summer Boxing Series’
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Jean Henri Lhuillier Drives ASAPHIL’s Winning System Through Long-Term Vision and Coaching Continuity
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Dy ready to face Malignaggi in BKB on May 16
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • ‘A younger lion always comes for that old lions spot. Your time is up, GET OUT OF MY WAY! – Manny Ritti challenges former ONE FC World Champion Nobutsu Suzuki May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
    , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • Kenia Enriquez Signs Multi-Year Contract with Latin KO Promotions
    , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • FM Habla, Madriaga win Armageddon for IIEE-PSME Quezon City in PCAP
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • Undefeated heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor Graduates to 10-rounder this Saturday in Atlanta
    , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • Jonas Magpantay bags P300,000 with Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer 10-Ball title win
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 06 May 2026
  • Abdullah Mason Returns Home for Lightweight World Title Defense against Joe Cordina July 4 at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center
    , Wed, 06 May 2026
  • Christopher Guerrero to face Delante Johnson on July 4 at the CSU Wolstein Center in Cleveland!
    , Wed, 06 May 2026
  • Yanong and Horiike make weight in Japan for OPBF 140 lb. title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 05 May 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.