30-Day Weights: Rigondeaux 127.6-Pounds, Astrolabio 129.8

Loving him… or getting completely bored out of him, Cuba’s 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 “si, si se puede,” as he proceeds forward to complying with the required WBC 30-day weight-check ahead of his upcoming rumble against younger Filipino slugger Vincent Astrolabio for the vacant WBC International bantamweight strap.

The fight takes place 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) has vowed to deal with the hard-swinging Astrolabio (16-3, 12 KO’s), a fighter from southern Philippines, who preps for battle at Many 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 weighed-in heavier at 129.8 lbs; both boxers required to come down to 118 pounds for their one-month-away 12 rounder.

The winner of Rigondeaux-Astrolabio will move a step closer to a shot at the WBC bantamweight world champion Nonito Doanire.

Rigondeaux would love to battle the popular “Filipino Flash” in a rematch. Rigo outclassed Donaire nearly 9 years ago at the Radio City Music Hall in the Big Apple.    

However, Nonito is far more interested in a thrilling, more rewarding, more sensational rematch against former foe, top-10 P4P lister Naoya Inoue, likely to happen in Japan.

The author Carlos Costa can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and whatsapp +639184538152.