First-round knockouts

Vincent Astrolabio’s first-round knockout loss to defending WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani in Tokyo last July 20 wasn’t the first time a Filipino suffered a quick ending in a world title fight.

Here›s a rundown. Former WBC lightflyweight champion Rolando Pascua lost to Johnny Bredahl in an IBO bantamweight title fight in Denmark in 1996. WBF featherweight ruler Rico Siodora yielded his throne to Thongchai Treeviset in Cagayan de Oro in 1998.  Malcolm Tunacao was blitzed by Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in surrendering his WBC flyweight crown in Thailand in 2001. Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista bowed to Daniel Ponce de Leon in a bid for the WBC superbantamweight title in Sacramento in 2007. Sonny Boy Jaro was blown out by Giovani Segura in a WBA lightflyweight championship match in Mexico in 2009.

On the flip side, several Filipinos won by a first-round KO in world title bouts. Flash Elorde disposed of Harold Gomes to retain his world junior lightweight strap at the San Francisco Cow Palace in 1960 and later that year, did the same to Sergio Caprari at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Roberto Cruz crushed Raymundo (Battling) Torres to win the vacant WBC superlightweight belt at the Los Angeles Dodgers Stadium in 1963. Ben Villalfor flattened Kuniaki Shibata to regain the WBA superfeatherweight diadem in Honolulu in 1973. Luisito Espinosa starched Khaokor Galaxy to grab the WBA bantamweight title in Bangkok in 1989 then Manny Pacquiao joined the parade in blasting Fahprakorb Rakkiat-Gym to retain his IBF superbantamweight crown in Davao City in 2002. Brian Viloria stunned Eric Ortiz to claim the WBC lightflyweight throne in Los Angeles in 2005.

South African Gideon Buthelezi was the victim of two Filipinos who scored first-round KOs in world title fights in South Africa. Edrin Dapudong downed Buthelezi for the IBO superflyweight title in 2013 and Dave Apolinario followed suit to capture the IBO flyweight crown in 2022.

Astrolabio’s defeat was a shocker, particularly as he had trained four long months for his second chance to win a world title. “It happens in boxing,” said MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons. “I don’t think Astrolabio saw the punch. He had his hands up to protect his chin so Nakatani found a clear target with his left straight to the gut. Bad luck. He couldn’t even warm up. I felt if it went three or four rounds, Astrolabio’s power would’ve taken over.”

Astrolabio’s trainer Nonoy Neri said the punch landed in perfect timing. A shot to the solar plexus will take the breath out of you when you’re in the process of inhaling. You’re left gasping for air, like you’re drowning. That’s what happened to Astrolabio. He went down, tried to get up but couldn’t catch his breath.

“It’s not the end of the world for Astrolabio,” said Gibbons. “He’ll be back. He’s got a three-year US visa so after spending time with family for a few weeks, we’ll fly him to Vegas to resume training. Look at TJ Doheny, the kid from Ireland. He lost three of four fights then won three in a row and now, he’s got a shot at Noaya Inoue in September.”

Less than a week after Astrolabio lost, he was rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy at the St. John of the Cross Hospital in Davao City. Apparently, he had stomach pains before the Nakatani fight but didn’t disclose it to avoid a possible postponement. The condition, however, had nothing to do with the knockout loss and Neri said it’s no excuse. Astrolabio, 27, will regroup and fight again.