KO or bust for Astrolabio

MANILA, Philippines — Vincent Astrolabio’s nickname Asero, or steel, is fitting. He’s also known as Astro Boy after the robotic child with superstrength in the 2009 sci-fi family movie. Whether it’s Asero or Wonder Boy, he’ll live up to whatever he’s called with his fists doing the talking.

When Astrolabio faces Australia’s Jason Moloney for the vacant WBO bantamweight title in Stockton, California, on May 13, the only thing on his mind is to go for a knockout. In the 118-pound division, Astrolabio could be the most devastating, heavy-handed bomber today. Coach Nonoy Neri, who worked long years with Manny Pacquiao, says it’s a risk to leave Astrolabio’s fate in the judges hands. “Kanila ang promotion (Top Rank) kaya kailangan patulugin si Moloney,” he notes.

Astrolabio, 26, says he’s confident of winning. He doesn’t agree it’s a 50-50 fight and says it’s more like 70-30 in his favor. “Boxer si Moloney, sa labas lumalaban kaya papasukin ko,” he says. “Ang style niya parang (Nikolai) Potapov. Kung ano nangyari kay Potapov, ganoon din ang lagay ni Moloney.” Potapov battled Astrolabio in Las Vegas last December and was dropped in the first, fifth and sixth rounds before referee Robert Hoyle waved it off. The annihilation was brutal and established Astrolabio’s reputation as a dynamite puncher. Before fighting Potapov, he went up against Cuba’s Olympic legend Guillermo Rigondeaux who’s as difficult to catch as the wind. Astrolabio floored Rigondeaux in the eighth frame, couldn’t take him out and settled for a win on points. Moloney, 32, isn’t as crafty or elusive as Rigondeaux so he’ll be easier to hit.

The other day, Astrolabio weighed 125 pounds, on track to make 118 at the weigh-in the day before the bout. He’s been training in Las Vegas for over a month with strength and conditioning guru Memo Heredia. A few weeks ago, Neri flew in to join his camp. Astrolabio credits Heredia for his stamina. He runs around a track oval and up the hills outside Las Vegas. Heredia pounds a medicine ball on his midsection to toughen up for body shots and supervises drills to polish Astrolabio’s snap punching. His sparmates include Filipinos Jade Bornea and Jonas Sultan so there’s a lot of banging he’s endured in the ring.