Tag: Elvis Rodriguez

Weekend Review: Frank Martin had to settle for shaky, unsatisfying victory

Weekend Review: Frank Martin had to settle for a shaky, unsatisfying victory over capable Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday in Las Vegas.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Frank Martin

Martin will be a better fighter because of the experience he gained against fellow 135-pound contender Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday in Las Vegas but the process was painful for him. The combination of Martin’s relative inactivity over the first eight rounds and his opponent’s impressive ability and work rate made for a close fight, one in which Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) had to rally to win by a close, but unanimous decision. The winner wasn’t satisfied at all afterward, blaming his sluggish performance on poor timing that he couldn’t explain. His trainer, Derrick James, provided the reason: James pushed Martin to let his hands go until he finally did so with some consistency down the stretch. My theory is that Martin was overly concerned with being precise with his punches when he should’ve focused on simply touching his clever opponent as much as possible, as he did in an explosive sixth round and in the late rounds. I’m guessing that will be the lesson Martin will take away from the most difficult fight of his career. Is he still a threat to the top 135-pounders? I believe so. All top fighters must endure such challenges at some point to evolve into stars. I wouldn’t want to be Martin’s next opponent.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Harutyunyan (12-1, 7 KOs) made a strong impression in defeat. The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, who had never fought outside his home country of Germany, demonstrated against a respected opponent that he has world class talent. He’s a gifted, clever boxer and durable. It took what appeared to be a severe eye injury to put him down in the final round, when he took a knee. He lost by scores of 115-112, 115-112 and 114-113. Had he managed to win the final round with a score of 10-9 (instead of losing it 10-8) the fight would have been a majority draw (114-114 on two cards). I hope the native of Armenia gets more big fights. He earned that Saturday night. … Elvis Rodriguez (15-1-1, 13 KOs) gave arguably the strongest performance of his career on the Martin-Harutyunyan undercard. The 140-pound contender patiently broke down still-capable veteran Viktor Postol (31-5, 12 KOs) before putting him down late in Round 6 and then finishing the job in Round 7. The convincing victory bolstered the Dominican’s position as a legitimate contender. Meanwhile, Postol, 39, might decide to call it quits after three consecutive losses. He had an excellent career, which peaked when he stopped Lucas Matthysse in 10 rounds to win a world title in 2015. …

Welterweight prospect Freudis Rojas (11-0, 11 KOs) lucked out when the Nonito Donaire-Alexandro Santiago was pushed back to July 29 and his fight with overmatched Diego Santiago Sanchez (19-3, 16 KOs) ended up on Showtime’s Martin-Harutyunyan telecast. And he took full advantage, dominating and then stopping Sanchez in seven rounds. Rojas has a lot going for him. The 6-foot-2 southpaw from Las Vegas used his length and heavy hands to pick his Mexican foe apart from a safe distance, a formula that could make him a formidable opponent for anyone. Rojas is definitely one to watch. … Undisputed 130-pound champion Alycia Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs) exacted revenge and maintained her momentum Saturday in Detroit, defeating Christina Linardatou (14-3, 6 KOs) by a one-sided decision. The official scores were 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92. Linardatou handed Baumgarnder her only defeat, a split decision in 2018. Baumgarnder has won nine consecutive fights and claimed all four junior lightweight titles since her setback, establishing herself as one of the best in the business.

[lawrence-related id=38098,38088,38076]

Weekend Review: Frank Martin had to settle for shaky, unsatisfying victory

Weekend Review: Frank Martin had to settle for a shaky, unsatisfying victory over capable Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday in Las Vegas.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Frank Martin

Martin will be a better fighter because of the experience he gained against fellow 135-pound contender Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday in Las Vegas but the process was painful for him. The combination of Martin’s relative inactivity over the first eight rounds and his opponent’s impressive ability and work rate made for a close fight, one in which Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) had to rally to win by a close, but unanimous decision. The winner wasn’t satisfied at all afterward, blaming his sluggish performance on poor timing that he couldn’t explain. His trainer, Derrick James, provided the reason: James pushed Martin to let his hands go until he finally did so with some consistency down the stretch. My theory is that Martin was overly concerned with being precise with his punches when he should’ve focused on simply touching his clever opponent as much as possible, as he did in an explosive sixth round and in the late rounds. I’m guessing that will be the lesson Martin will take away from the most difficult fight of his career. Is he still a threat to the top 135-pounders? I believe so. All top fighters must endure such challenges at some point to evolve into stars. I wouldn’t want to be Martin’s next opponent.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Harutyunyan (12-1, 7 KOs) made a strong impression in defeat. The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, who had never fought outside his home country of Germany, demonstrated against a respected opponent that he has world class talent. He’s a gifted, clever boxer and durable. It took what appeared to be a severe eye injury to put him down in the final round, when he took a knee. He lost by scores of 115-112, 115-112 and 114-113. Had he managed to win the final round with a score of 10-9 (instead of losing it 10-8) the fight would have been a majority draw (114-114 on two cards). I hope the native of Armenia gets more big fights. He earned that Saturday night. … Elvis Rodriguez (15-1-1, 13 KOs) gave arguably the strongest performance of his career on the Martin-Harutyunyan undercard. The 140-pound contender patiently broke down still-capable veteran Viktor Postol (31-5, 12 KOs) before putting him down late in Round 6 and then finishing the job in Round 7. The convincing victory bolstered the Dominican’s position as a legitimate contender. Meanwhile, Postol, 39, might decide to call it quits after three consecutive losses. He had an excellent career, which peaked when he stopped Lucas Matthysse in 10 rounds to win a world title in 2015. …

Welterweight prospect Freudis Rojas (11-0, 11 KOs) lucked out when the Nonito Donaire-Alexandro Santiago was pushed back to July 29 and his fight with overmatched Diego Santiago Sanchez (19-3, 16 KOs) ended up on Showtime’s Martin-Harutyunyan telecast. And he took full advantage, dominating and then stopping Sanchez in seven rounds. Rojas has a lot going for him. The 6-foot-2 southpaw from Las Vegas used his length and heavy hands to pick his Mexican foe apart from a safe distance, a formula that could make him a formidable opponent for anyone. Rojas is definitely one to watch. … Undisputed 130-pound champion Alycia Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs) exacted revenge and maintained her momentum Saturday in Detroit, defeating Christina Linardatou (14-3, 6 KOs) by a one-sided decision. The official scores were 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92. Linardatou handed Baumgarnder her only defeat, a split decision in 2018. Baumgarnder has won nine consecutive fights and claimed all four junior lightweight titles since her setback, establishing herself as one of the best in the business.

[lawrence-related id=38098,38088,38076]

Elvis Rodriguez stops veteran Viktor Postol in seventh round

Elvis Rodriguez stopped veteran Viktor Postol in the seventh round Saturday in Las Vegas.

Elvis Rodriguez took a significant step in his career Saturday in Las Vegas.

The 27-year-old junior welterweight titleholder stopped veteran Viktor Postol in the seventh round of a scheduled 10-round bout on the Frank Martin-Artem Harutyunyan card at The Cosmopolitan.

The victory arguably is the most important of Rodriguez’s career given Postol’s name and the manner in which the fight ended.

The 39-year-old Postol (31-5, 12 KOs) was competitive in the early rounds, fighting behind his jab and landing one-twos with some consistency. He also used his feet to make Rodriguez chase him.

However, by the fourth or fifth round, Rodriguez was landing more and more punishing punches to both the head and body that began to break down Postol.

Rodriguez (15-1-1, 13 KOs) put Postol down with a right hook in the final seconds of Round 6. Then, when the bell rang to start the next round, he continued where he left off and Postol couldn’t adequately defend himself.

That’s why referee Celestino Ruiz stopped the fight, to save Postol from taking undue punishment. The Ukrainian didn’t complain.

Rodriguez has now won four consecutive fights since he lost a majority decision to Kenneth Sims Jr. in 2021, strengthening his position as a legitimate 147-pound contender.

Meanwhile, Postol, who once held a 140-pound title, has lost three consecutive fights. He might be finished.

Elvis Rodriguez stops veteran Viktor Postol in seventh round

Elvis Rodriguez stopped veteran Viktor Postol in the seventh round Saturday in Las Vegas.

Elvis Rodriguez took a significant step in his career Saturday in Las Vegas.

The 27-year-old junior welterweight titleholder stopped veteran Viktor Postol in the seventh round of a scheduled 10-round bout on the Frank Martin-Artem Harutyunyan card at The Cosmopolitan.

The victory arguably is the most important of Rodriguez’s career given Postol’s name and the manner in which the fight ended.

The 39-year-old Postol (31-5, 12 KOs) was competitive in the early rounds, fighting behind his jab and landing one-twos with some consistency. He also used his feet to make Rodriguez chase him.

However, by the fourth or fifth round, Rodriguez was landing more and more punishing punches to both the head and body that began to break down Postol.

Rodriguez (15-1-1, 13 KOs) put Postol down with a right hook in the final seconds of Round 6. Then, when the bell rang to start the next round, he continued where he left off and Postol couldn’t adequately defend himself.

That’s why referee Celestino Ruiz stopped the fight, to save Postol from taking undue punishment. The Ukrainian didn’t complain.

Rodriguez has now won four consecutive fights since he lost a majority decision to Kenneth Sims Jr. in 2021, strengthening his position as a legitimate 147-pound contender.

Meanwhile, Postol, who once held a 140-pound title, has lost three consecutive fights. He might be finished.

Elvis Rodriguez beats up, stops Juan Velasco in seven rounds

Elvis Rodriguez beats up and then stopped Juan Velasco in the seventh round Saturday in Minneapolis.

Elvis lives!

Junior welterweight prospect Elvis Rodriguez put Juan Velasco down three times in the seventh round and stopped him that round on the Tim Tszyu-Terrell Gausha card Saturday in Minneapolis.

It was the Domincan’s second consecutive victory since he was upset by Kenneth Sims in May of last year.

Rodriguez (13-1-1, 12 KOs) used the first round to feel out Velasco (23-3, 14 KOs) and then unloaded on his Argentine opponent, cutting him and breaking him down with an efficient attack.

Velasco was damaged by the end of Round 6. Then, in Round 7, he collapsed. Rodriguez put him down with a right, sent him down a second time under a barrage of punches and then did the same near the end of the round.

Velcasco, hurt badly and with no hope of winning, staying down for the 10 count. He has now been stopped by Regis Prograis, Mario Barrios and Rodriguez.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:49 of Round 7.

Rodriguez landed a remarkable 63 percent of his power shots, according to CompuBox. He outlanded Velasco in overall punches 122-41, which indicates how dominating Rodriguez was.

He was asked afterward who he would like to fight next.

“I’m ready for anybody at 140,” he said, “be it Gervonta Davis or Rolly Romero. I’m ready and prepared.”

That appeared to be the case on Saturday.

Elvis Rodriguez beats up, stops Juan Velasco in seven rounds

Elvis Rodriguez beats up and then stopped Juan Velasco in the seventh round Saturday in Minneapolis.

Elvis lives!

Junior welterweight prospect Elvis Rodriguez put Juan Velasco down three times in the seventh round and stopped him that round on the Tim Tszyu-Terrell Gausha card Saturday in Minneapolis.

It was the Domincan’s second consecutive victory since he was upset by Kenneth Sims in May of last year.

Rodriguez (13-1-1, 12 KOs) used the first round to feel out Velasco (23-3, 14 KOs) and then unloaded on his Argentine opponent, cutting him and breaking him down with an efficient attack.

Velasco was damaged by the end of Round 6. Then, in Round 7, he collapsed. Rodriguez put him down with a right, sent him down a second time under a barrage of punches and then did the same near the end of the round.

Velcasco, hurt badly and with no hope of winning, staying down for the 10 count. He has now been stopped by Regis Prograis, Mario Barrios and Rodriguez.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:49 of Round 7.

Rodriguez landed a remarkable 63 percent of his power shots, according to CompuBox. He outlanded Velasco in overall punches 122-41, which indicates how dominating Rodriguez was.

He was asked afterward who he would like to fight next.

“I’m ready for anybody at 140,” he said, “be it Gervonta Davis or Rolly Romero. I’m ready and prepared.”

That appeared to be the case on Saturday.

Good, bad, worse: Canelo Alvarez’s special night

A critical look at the past week in boxing GOOD We can use different criteria to illustrate the magnitude of Canelo Alvarez’s accomplishments. The Mexican star has won major titles in four divisions, which is a standard barometer of greatness. It’s …

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

We can use different criteria to illustrate the magnitude of Canelo Alvarez’s accomplishments.

The Mexican star has won major titles in four divisions, which is a standard barometer of greatness. It’s not my favorite, though. Alphabet titles mean little when there are almost 100 of them. And it seems everyone is a multiple-division beltholder these days.

Alvarez became the first undisputed super middleweight champion and sixth male undisputed champ in any division in the four-belt era by stopping Caleb Plant in the 11th round Saturday in Las Vegas.

That’s a heady accomplishment given how rare it is. And in our dreams there would be only one champion in each division, as there once was. This is as close as we’re going to get to that.

“Undisputed” has its limitations, too, though. It’s based on the whims of the sanctioning bodies, who generally rank fighters in manner that benefits them the most in terms of the bottom line. Merit isn’t always the primary factor.

The best approach to appreciate the accomplishments of Alvarez is to simply consider his opponents and the fact he has beaten them consistently.

He has taken down one highly rated foe after another over the past decade, rarely opting for stay-busy or transitional fight against pushovers. That’s what Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio did on the road to greatness.

Shane Mosley, Austin Trout, Erislandy Lara, Miguel Cotto, Gennadiy Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs and Sergey Kovalev might be the best of Alvarez’s victims but the list is a lot longer than that. He has by far the best resume in boxing today.

Alvarez failed to have his hand raised only four times, a draw against long-forgotten Jorge Juarez in his fifth fight, a one-sided decision against all-time great Mayweather and a disputed draw in his first fight against Golovkin, a future Hall of Famer.

Becoming the undisputed super middleweight champion is an achievement that should be celebrated but Alvarez has been doing special things for a long time.

***

BAD

It’s important to keep Alvarez’s victory on Saturday in perspective. AP Photo / Steve Marcus

There’s nothing “bad” about Alvarez’s victory over Plant but we should keep it in perspective.

Alvarez didn’t just defeat Roy Jones Jr. or Bernard Hopkins. He beat Plant, a good, athletic boxer who had little experience on an elite level and can’t punch, which made his mission almost impossible.

And there’s certainly nothing bad about Alvarez’s pursuit of history. He isn’t satisfied with mundane accomplishments. And there’s nothing mundane about becoming the first undisputed super middleweight champion.

However, we should keep that in perspective, too. We must take into account the fighters he beat to achieve that lofty goal: Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Plant, all three of whom are good, but limited fighters.

Again, I understand why Alvarez choose to fight them; He wanted to make do something that would stand out. None were much of a threat to him, though. And don’t we want the best fighters to face genuine threats as much as possible?

I would rather Alvarez have faced Gennadiy Golovkin a third time, David Benavidez and Jermall Charlo instead. He wouldn’t have become “undisputed” but he would’ve faced more-significant challenges, which is more important to me.

We must appreciate Alvarez’s general approach to selecting opponents. He has faced one ranked foe after another over the past decade. At the same time, his emphasis on collecting titles – which mean less than ever – has its drawbacks.

The good news is that he could still fight Benavidez and Charlo. Golovkin? Not likely.

***

WORSE

Caleb Plant endured a difficult night but he’ll be back. AP Photo / Steve Marcus

Plant has nothing to be ashamed of. He gave a solid performance against one of the best in the business.

The athletic Tennessean frustrated Alvarez in the first half of the fight with his elite level boxing ability, particularly his elusiveness. The winner was still trying to chase him down in the middle rounds.

Alas, Alvarez’s relentless pressure – including damaging body work — gradually broke down Plant and set up the dramatic knockout in the 11th round, a devastating fate for a proud fighter who had such big expectations.

And it wasn’t close on the cards through 10 rounds. Alvarez led 98-92 (eight rounds to two), 97-93 and 96-94. Boxing Junkie had it 98-92 for Alvarez.

A key problem for Plant was his lack of punching power. If you can’t keep Alvarez honest with hard shots (a la Gennadiy Golovkin), you have to be a boxing wizard (a la Floyd Mayweather) to beat him.

Plant is a good boxer but he’s not that good, which is why he was about an 8-1 underdog (average of multiple outlets) going into the fight.

This undoubtedly is a difficult time for Plant, who had never tasted defeat as a professional and genuinely believed he’d have his hand raised. However, the setback isn’t the end of the world for him.

Again, he lost to a truly great fighter. No shame in that. He arguably performed better than super middleweight counterparts Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders, which confirmed that he belonged in the ring with Alvarez.

And he isn’t the type to give up. He has overcome some personal tragedies, which tells you something about his mental toughness. He’ll bounce back from Saturday’s setback, too.

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

Rey Vargas (35-0, 22 KOs) had been away for more than two years before he fought Leonardo Baez (21-5, 12 KOs) on the Alvarez-Plant card. I had forgotten how good he is. The former 122-pound titleholder used his unusual length and ability to pick apart his fellow Mexican and win a near-shutout decision in his first fight as a full-fledged 126-pounder. Vargas is ranked No. 1 by the WBC, whose champion is Gary Russel Jr. I’d pick Russel to win that fight but Vargas would be a live underdog. He’s really good. … Anthony Dirrell (34-3-2, 26 KOs) delivered the punch of the night at the MGM Grand, a monstrous right uppercut that instantaneously destroyed Marcos Hernandez (15-5-2, 3 KOs) in the third round of their super middleweight fight. I don’t know whether the 37-year-old former two-time titleholder will get a shot at one more major belt but he made a strong case that he’s a viable option. … Junior welterweight contender Elvis Rodriguez (12-1-1, 11 KOs) bounced back from his upset loss to Kenneth Sims Jr. in May, stopping capable Juan Pablo Romero (14-1, 9 KOs) in five rounds on the Alvarez-Plant card.

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Good, bad, worse: Canelo Alvarez’s special night

A critical look at the past week in boxing GOOD We can use different criteria to illustrate the magnitude of Canelo Alvarez’s accomplishments. The Mexican star has won major titles in four divisions, which is a standard barometer of greatness. It’s …

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

We can use different criteria to illustrate the magnitude of Canelo Alvarez’s accomplishments.

The Mexican star has won major titles in four divisions, which is a standard barometer of greatness. It’s not my favorite, though. Alphabet titles mean little when there are almost 100 of them. And it seems everyone is a multiple-division beltholder these days.

Alvarez became the first undisputed super middleweight champion and sixth male undisputed champ in any division in the four-belt era by stopping Caleb Plant in the 11th round Saturday in Las Vegas.

That’s a heady accomplishment given how rare it is. And in our dreams there would be only one champion in each division, as there once was. This is as close as we’re going to get to that.

“Undisputed” has its limitations, too, though. It’s based on the whims of the sanctioning bodies, who generally rank fighters in manner that benefits them the most in terms of the bottom line. Merit isn’t always the primary factor.

The best approach to appreciate the accomplishments of Alvarez is to simply consider his opponents and the fact he has beaten them consistently.

He has taken down one highly rated foe after another over the past decade, rarely opting for stay-busy or transitional fight against pushovers. That’s what Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio did on the road to greatness.

Shane Mosley, Austin Trout, Erislandy Lara, Miguel Cotto, Gennadiy Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs and Sergey Kovalev might be the best of Alvarez’s victims but the list is a lot longer than that. He has by far the best resume in boxing today.

Alvarez failed to have his hand raised only four times, a draw against long-forgotten Jorge Juarez in his fifth fight, a one-sided decision against all-time great Mayweather and a disputed draw in his first fight against Golovkin, a future Hall of Famer.

Becoming the undisputed super middleweight champion is an achievement that should be celebrated but Alvarez has been doing special things for a long time.

***

BAD

It’s important to keep Alvarez’s victory on Saturday in perspective. AP Photo / Steve Marcus

There’s nothing “bad” about Alvarez’s victory over Plant but we should keep it in perspective.

Alvarez didn’t just defeat Roy Jones Jr. or Bernard Hopkins. He beat Plant, a good, athletic boxer who had little experience on an elite level and can’t punch, which made his mission almost impossible.

And there’s certainly nothing bad about Alvarez’s pursuit of history. He isn’t satisfied with mundane accomplishments. And there’s nothing mundane about becoming the first undisputed super middleweight champion.

However, we should keep that in perspective, too. We must take into account the fighters he beat to achieve that lofty goal: Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Plant, all three of whom are good, but limited fighters.

Again, I understand why Alvarez choose to fight them; He wanted to make do something that would stand out. None were much of a threat to him, though. And don’t we want the best fighters to face genuine threats as much as possible?

I would rather Alvarez have faced Gennadiy Golovkin a third time, David Benavidez and Jermall Charlo instead. He wouldn’t have become “undisputed” but he would’ve faced more-significant challenges, which is more important to me.

We must appreciate Alvarez’s general approach to selecting opponents. He has faced one ranked foe after another over the past decade. At the same time, his emphasis on collecting titles – which mean less than ever – has its drawbacks.

The good news is that he could still fight Benavidez and Charlo. Golovkin? Not likely.

***

WORSE

Caleb Plant endured a difficult night but he’ll be back. AP Photo / Steve Marcus

Plant has nothing to be ashamed of. He gave a solid performance against one of the best in the business.

The athletic Tennessean frustrated Alvarez in the first half of the fight with his elite level boxing ability, particularly his elusiveness. The winner was still trying to chase him down in the middle rounds.

Alas, Alvarez’s relentless pressure – including damaging body work — gradually broke down Plant and set up the dramatic knockout in the 11th round, a devastating fate for a proud fighter who had such big expectations.

And it wasn’t close on the cards through 10 rounds. Alvarez led 98-92 (eight rounds to two), 97-93 and 96-94. Boxing Junkie had it 98-92 for Alvarez.

A key problem for Plant was his lack of punching power. If you can’t keep Alvarez honest with hard shots (a la Gennadiy Golovkin), you have to be a boxing wizard (a la Floyd Mayweather) to beat him.

Plant is a good boxer but he’s not that good, which is why he was about an 8-1 underdog (average of multiple outlets) going into the fight.

This undoubtedly is a difficult time for Plant, who had never tasted defeat as a professional and genuinely believed he’d have his hand raised. However, the setback isn’t the end of the world for him.

Again, he lost to a truly great fighter. No shame in that. He arguably performed better than super middleweight counterparts Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders, which confirmed that he belonged in the ring with Alvarez.

And he isn’t the type to give up. He has overcome some personal tragedies, which tells you something about his mental toughness. He’ll bounce back from Saturday’s setback, too.

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

Rey Vargas (35-0, 22 KOs) had been away for more than two years before he fought Leonardo Baez (21-5, 12 KOs) on the Alvarez-Plant card. I had forgotten how good he is. The former 122-pound titleholder used his unusual length and ability to pick apart his fellow Mexican and win a near-shutout decision in his first fight as a full-fledged 126-pounder. Vargas is ranked No. 1 by the WBC, whose champion is Gary Russel Jr. I’d pick Russel to win that fight but Vargas would be a live underdog. He’s really good. … Anthony Dirrell (34-3-2, 26 KOs) delivered the punch of the night at the MGM Grand, a monstrous right uppercut that instantaneously destroyed Marcos Hernandez (15-5-2, 3 KOs) in the third round of their super middleweight fight. I don’t know whether the 37-year-old former two-time titleholder will get a shot at one more major belt but he made a strong case that he’s a viable option. … Junior welterweight contender Elvis Rodriguez (12-1-1, 11 KOs) bounced back from his upset loss to Kenneth Sims Jr. in May, stopping capable Juan Pablo Romero (14-1, 9 KOs) in five rounds on the Alvarez-Plant card.

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Elvis Rodriguez stops Juan Pablo Romero in three rounds

Elvis Rodriguez stopped Juan Pablo Romero in three rounds on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Elvis Rodriguez bounced back nicely from his first loss.

The Los Angeles-based Dominican knocked out capable Juan Pablo Romero in the third round of a scheduled 10-round welterweight bout on the Canelo Alvarez-Caleb Plant card Saturday in Las Vegas.

Rodriguez (12-1-1, 11 KOs) was upset in his most-recent fight, a majority decision against Kenneth Sims Jr. in May, which put a halt to the momentum he had built.

He didn’t choose a pushover in his comeback bout, as Romero (14-1, 9 KOs) was unbeaten and a 2016 Olympian for Mexico.

And Romero looked like a threat to take down Rodriguez in the first few rounds, in which the fighters went back and forth in what seemed to be an evenly matched bout.

However, Rodriguez, a southpaw, took over in Round 4, when he put Romero down with a straight left with about a minute remaining in the round. Romero got up and seemed to recover but there was more to come.

Round 5 was competitive until the final seconds, when another left put Romero flat on his back. He sat up but decided to stay on the canvas as the referee reached a count of 10.

The fighters agreed to a 142-pound catch weight but Rodriguez is a junior welterweight, which has a limit of 140. His victory puts him back into the thick of the title hunt.

Elvis Rodriguez stops Juan Pablo Romero in three rounds

Elvis Rodriguez stopped Juan Pablo Romero in three rounds on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Elvis Rodriguez bounced back nicely from his first loss.

The Los Angeles-based Dominican knocked out capable Juan Pablo Romero in the third round of a scheduled 10-round welterweight bout on the Canelo Alvarez-Caleb Plant card Saturday in Las Vegas.

Rodriguez (12-1-1, 11 KOs) was upset in his most-recent fight, a majority decision against Kenneth Sims Jr. in May, which put a halt to the momentum he had built.

He didn’t choose a pushover in his comeback bout, as Romero (14-1, 9 KOs) was unbeaten and a 2016 Olympian for Mexico.

And Romero looked like a threat to take down Rodriguez in the first few rounds, in which the fighters went back and forth in what seemed to be an evenly matched bout.

However, Rodriguez, a southpaw, took over in Round 4, when he put Romero down with a straight left with about a minute remaining in the round. Romero got up and seemed to recover but there was more to come.

Round 5 was competitive until the final seconds, when another left put Romero flat on his back. He sat up but decided to stay on the canvas as the referee reached a count of 10.

The fighters agreed to a 142-pound catch weight but Rodriguez is a junior welterweight, which has a limit of 140. His victory puts him back into the thick of the title hunt.