By: Sean Cross
Bantamweights Nikolai Potapov and Vincent Astrolabio squared off in twelve rounds on Saturday at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. The main event was the opening bout of Showtime’s final card featuring lightweights Michelle Rivera and Frank Martin.
The opening round saw the 23-2-1 Potapov come down from the skids, although the 17-3 Astrolabio thought he had scored an early knockout. The Filipino fighter got his wish later in the round, however, as he dropped Potapov to the mat with a slick left. Suffice it to say that Potapov quickly got to his feet. The second round was close, although Potapov was cut over his right eye.
The third successfully saw Potopov’s land. At the end of the round, however, it was the astrolabe that determined the timing of the action. In the fourth, although Potopov was the slightly faster fighter, it was clear that Astolabio was the more powerful puncher. That being said, Potopov cleverly arrests the man when approached with an astrolabe. It was hard to score.
That is, until Astrolabio dropped the man in the fifth, causing Potopov to stumble backwards before he landed on his knees. To his credit, Potopov got down to his feet and continued to capitalize on the adventure. Once again, Atrolabio went hard in the sixth man and sent Potopov to the mat again. At this time Potopov was counted.
