Guillermo Rigondeaux vs Vincent Astrolabio Preview Feb. 26th, 2022
Former World Bantamweight champion Guilllermo Rigondeaux of Cuba returns to the ring this Saturday, Feb. 26th when he takes on Vincent Astrolabio of the Philippines. The 12-round bantamweight battle takes place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and is for the vacant WBC International Bantamweight Title. Rigondeaux lost his WBA Belt in August when he dropped a split decision to John Riel Casimero after winning the vacant title in February, 2020 when he edged Liborio Solis by a split decision. Astrolabio last boxed in February when he stopped Jerry Pabila in the first round.
Rigondeaux vs Astrolabio Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Vincent Astrolabio +600
- Guillermo Rigondeaux -1000
My Pick
Rigondeaux’s a two-time Olympic gold medalist who is now at the advanced age of 41 with a record of 20-2 with 13 Kos. He moved up a couple of weight classes to challenge Vasyl Lomachenko for the WBO Super Featherweight Title in December, 2017 but it was too much for him to handle and was stopped after six rounds for his first loss as a pro. He then preferred to run around the ring instead of engaging Casimero for his second defeat. Even so, the southpaw is still considered to be an elite boxer with good power.
It may seem his pro career has been wasted with just 22 fights but many opponents ducked him over the years and he’s also had promotional problems. Rigondeaux possesses excellent defensive skills which means he’s not the most exciting boxer around and he’ll be dropping down to the 118 lb bantamweight division for just the third time in his pro career. He stands 5-feet-5-inches tall with a reach of 68 and has boxed 124 rounds since making his pro debut in 2009.
Rigondeaux was a longtime Super Bantamweight Champion who’s biggest pro wins have been over Nonito Donaire, Hishashi Amagasa, Joseph Agbeko, Rico Ramos and Sod Kokietgym. He has pretty good power with a current knockout ratio of 56.5 per cent but isn’t considered to be a KO artist. He controls the ring in excellent fashion and is quite hard to hit but he’s often been accused of being over cautious.
Still, he’s managed to stop 13 of his 22 opponents and seven of the last 15. Rigondeaux was an excellent amateur who won Olympic gold in 2000 and 2004 as well as seven Cuban titles and a pair of amateur world championships. He’s in the twilight of his career now and this could be his last fight before hanging up the gloves.
As for Astrolabio, he’s just 24 years old and has fought 102 rounds since making his pro debut in 2015. He carries a record of 16-3 with 12 Kos and has good power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 62.3 per cent. He stands 5-feet-5-inches tall with an unlisted reach so gives up two inches in height to Rigondeaux. Astrolabio was a pretty good amateur and fought at the 2014 Philippine National Games as a flyweight.
Astrolabio has been beaten three times as a pro as he dropped an eight-round unanimous decision to John Mark Apolinario in 2017, was stopped in the fourth round by Yuki Strong Kobayashi in 2018 and lost a 10-round majority decision to ZongLi He in 2018 in a shot at the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth Super Flyweight Title. Since turning pro, Astrolabio has captured the vacant Philippines Mindanao Professional Boxing Federation (MinProBA) Bantamweight Title and the vacant WBO Oriental Bantamweight Title.
Prediction…
Regardless of how boring and old he may be, Rigondeaux is still a world class boxer with plenty of amateur and pro experience while Astrolabio is a young prospect. Rigondeaux definitely has the skills to win this fight if he decides to use them but needs to be wary of his opponent’s power. As long as he doesn’t run around the ring again without throwing punches, Rigondeaux should have his hand held in victory.
Rigondeaux’s experience should be the difference.
Play Rigondeaux -1000 @ BetOnline.ag
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Guillermo Rigondeaux betting • Vincent Astrolabio betting