SAN FRANCISCO, California — In the aftermath of Vincent Astrolabio’s sorry loss in Stockton, two Filipino fighters attempt to send Philippine boxing back in winning form late this month and in the fourth week of June on American soil.
First to carry the flag is reigning World Boxing Organization minimumweight titlist Melvin Jerusalem, who meets mandatory challenger Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico on 27 May in Indio, California.
Jade Bornea, a former amateur standout, gets his chance at stardom when he challenges Argentina’s defending champion Fernando Martinez for the International Boxing Federation super-flyweight crown on 24 June at the Armory in Minneapolis.
Last Saturday, Astrolabio bowed to Australian Jason Moloney in a clash for the WBO bantamweight throne.
Moloney was declared winner after carving out a 12-round majority decision, a result that has finally been accepted by his team led by the ever-influential Sean Gibbons.
“I watched the fight again and Vincent gave the fight away (and) needed to step on the gas,” Gibbons said, describing how Moloney ran away with the verdict as Astrolabio left himself susceptible to crisp jabs all night long.
Still, all is not lost as Jerusalem and Bornea take their turn soon as they bid to join in the elite cast that also has two-belt super-bantamweight titleholder Marlon Tapales.
Tapales was crowned last 10 April in San Antonio, Texas, while Jerusalem won his title in early-January in Osaka.
