Whose dream will come true?
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 14 May 2023
STOCKTON. Referee Edward Collantes is guaranteeing the fight between General Santos City’s Vincent Astrolabio and Australia’s Jason Moloney for the vacant WBO bantamweight title here (this morning Manila time) will be fair and competitive. As the third man in the ring, Collantes will make sure the fighters battle according to the rules. Collantes, 66, is working his seventh world championship bout. He’s been a referee in the amateur ranks since 2001 and the pros since 2006. In 2019, Collantes was the referee when Jerwin Ancajas retained the IBF superflyweight crown via a sixth round stoppage of Ryuichi Funai in this northern California city.
Veteran Jack Reiss was initially assigned to the Astrolabio-Moloney match but was moved up to the main event featuring WBO middleweight ruler Zhanibek Alimkhanuly and Steven Butler. California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster replaced Reiss with Collantes. “Zhanibek is a hard hitter and I wanted a referee with a lot more experience to do the fight,” he said. Reiss has been a referee for 22 years and worked in nearly 900 fights. Foster, a former MMA fighter, is known for initiating the California Professional Boxer’s Pension Fund which now amounts to over $5.3 million. The fund is available to boxers 50 years old and over with at least a 10-rounder a year for four years in California, no more than a three-year break and 75 pro rounds. He has been the commission’s executive director the last 11 years.
Judges will be Zachary Young of Los Angeles, Robert Hoyle of Nevada and Tom Carusone of Connecticut. Astrolabio’s coach Nonoy Neri said the judges’ scores won’t matter. MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons agreed and predicted the Filipino to bowl over Moloney. “We’ve done everything to prepare Vincent for this moment, the training, sparring, nutrition and now, it’ll come down to skills,” he said. Neri said Moloney has never faced an opponent who hits as hard as Astrolabio. “Duwag si Moloney, pagmakaramdam ng sakit, aayaw na ‘yan,” he said. “Ang kutob ko, papasukin niya si Vincent sa umpisa tapos pagmakatikim ng sakit, tatakbo na.” Neri, who has worked with Manny Pacquiao, said Astrolabio is the most heavy-handed puncher in the 118-pound division today. Cutman Ting (Sugar) Ariosa said Astrolabio lands with a snap and the impact is like a bomb exploding, reminiscent of Pacquiao’s lethal power. “Astrolabio has an excellent chance to win whether by KO or points,” Ariosa noted. “If he wins by decision, the exposure will be good for name recall. If he wins by a quick KO, fans might not remember him as much.” On Astrolabio’s signature T-shirt, he’s described as silent but dangerous.
Moloney’s coach Angelo Hyder said the Australian will do what it takes to bring down Astrolabio. “He can engage inside or fight outside, whatever works,” said Hyder. “Jason’s a boxer puncher like Australian legends Johnny Famechon and Lionel Rose.” Moloney’s resume counts 10 Filipino victims and he’s aiming to add Astrolabio to the list. Vengeance is on Astrolabio's mind and his dream is to bring home the belt. Moloney's dream is to win the title a week before his twin brother Andrew fights for the WBO superflyweight crown so they return Down Under as world champions. In yesterday’s weigh-in, Moloney tipped the scales at 117.8 pounds and Astrolabio, 117.2.
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