Astrolabio Drops Potapov Three Times En Route to a 6th Round KO Victory

Rising Filipino bantamweight Vincent 'Asero' Astrolabio proved that his last victory against Cuban superstar Guillermo Ringodeaux was no fluke by fashioning out the most impressive win of his career knocking down highly regarded Russian Nikolai Potapov three times en route to a 6th round knockout victory at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) televised live on SHOWTIME in an event promoted by Premier Boxing Champions.

With the win Astrolabio won the WBO Intercontinental bantamweight title and the IBF bantamweight title eliminator. With Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue who hold the IBF title planning to move up in weight, Astrolabio could very well fight for the vacant IBF title in his next fight if the 'Monster' make good of his plans.

Astrolabio scored his first knockdown with a left counter in the very first round against Potapov who had never been knocked down before in his career before this fight. In the second round blood dripped from Potapov's right eyebrow courtesy of Astrolabio's heavy punches. It now appeared that the Filipino's powerful punches have begun to hurt the Russian. The fight went on with Potapov attacking with combinations and Astrolabio timed the Russian with heavy punches to the head and body.

In the fifth round Astrolabio dropped Potapov again with a left uppercut who slowed down and hurt the Russian at this point. At 1:20 of the sixth round, Astrolabio finally got Potapov's number with another knockdown from a flurry of punches. This time Potapov stayed down and refused to beat Referee Robert Hoyle's count.

It was a knockout victory that Astrolabio promised to his promoter Manny Pacquiao's 44th birthday anniversay on December 17 that he fulfilled. Astolabio's trainer Nonoy Neri was a mainstay with Pacquiao's training team

Astrolabio has now racked up six straight victories, five of them by stoppage and improved his record to 18-3-0, 13KOs. Potapov, who has a one and half year layoff, dropped to 23-3-1, 11KOS.