Former world champion Guillermo "El Chacal" Rigondeaux (20-2, 13 KO's) of Miami by way of Santiago de Cuba and hard-hitting Filipino slugger Vincent "Asero" Astrolabio (16-3, 12 KO's) of General Santos City successfully beat the scale ahead of their 12-rounder rumble for the vacant WBC International bantamweight Strap tomorrow, Saturday, February 26, in "The City of Gold, "Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Rigondeaux, 41, and Astrolabio, 24, are ready to headline a Dubai boxing card promoted by People's Fighters set to unfold at The Lawns of the plush 36-hole course Emirates Golf Club.

The aggressive coming-forward Pinoy made 117.10 pounds, while the elusive, superbly defensive "Chacal" stood up at 117.80 lbs., both men looking in fantastic physical shape, ready for the 12 rounds.

The glory-hungry Astrolabio will have with him none other than Nonoy Neri, a beloved former long-time coach of Manny Pacquiao, while Rigondeaux will have Pedro Diaz, the veteran Cuban coach from Santa Clara who for decades worked with the Cuban Olympic Boxing Team.  

The winner for Rigondeaux vs Astrolabio will get a WBC ranking boost, stepping a notch close to a possible fight against the reigning king "Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire.

In the co-feature, Jadier Herrera (5-0, 5 KO's) of Camaguey, Cuba, grandson of revered Cuban boxing legend 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist Angel Herrera Vera, will trade artillery against Pinoy former OPBF champ "The Journeyman" Mark John Yap of Cagayan de Oro City for the vacant WBA Asia South Super Featherweight Title.

The 19-year-old Herrera fights to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, a man who captured gold in Montreal 1976 and Moscow 1980, plus amateur world boxing championships in Belgrade and Munich.

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