By CARLO ANOLIN
Jerwin Ancajas’ Las Vegas debut proved forgettable as Argentine Fernando Martinez dethroned him in their 12-round IBF junior-bantamweight bout at the Cosmopolitan Saturday night (Sunday in Manila).
Max Deluca had it 117-111 while David Sutherland and Steve Weisfeld both gave a 118-110 to Martinez for a unanimous win.
Martinez remained undefeated in 14 matches on top of eight knockouts while Ancajas suffered the second loss of his career with 33 wins, 22 coming from KOs, and two draws.
The pain of Ancajas’ defeat was soothed by the impressive win by little-known Vincent Astrolabio in Dubai.
The gutsy fighter from Gen. Santos City scored a huge knockdown in the eighth round against Cuban foe Guillermo Rigondeaux to capture the WBC International bantamweight belt at the Dubai Marina in United Arab Emirates Saturday.
Astrolabio, throwing in powerful body shots and crisp combinations, caught Rigondeaux off with a zooming right uppercut with a minute left in the eight round — the first time in their bout where the Cuban veteran seemed to be fazed and hurt.
All three judges scored 95-94 for a unanimous win in favor of Astrolabio.
Astrolabio used his speed and energy to land body shot after body shot while Rigondeaux, who is coming from a loss against WBC bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero, displayed his classic defensive and tactical boxing against the Filipino.
The eighth round proved to be the game-changer of the night as Astrolabio connected a left jab first before closing in with the right uppercut that sent the 41-year-old Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, down the canvas.
