Melvin Lopez – Syndication Server

Emmanuel Rodriguez shuts out overmatched Melvin Lopez to regain 118-pound belt

Emmanuel Rodriguez shut out overmatched Melvin Lopez to regain a 118-pound belt Saturday in the Washington, D.C. area.

Emmanuel Rodriguez is all the way back. And probably better than he was.

The 31-year Puerto Rican dropped Melvin Lopez three times in the 12th and final round and dominated his foe overall to win a shutout decision Saturday in the Washington, D.C. area, giving Rodriguez the vacant IBF 118-pound title

That’s the same belt he lost by knockout to Naoya Inoue in 2019, a disaster that was followed by another — albeit disputed — loss to Reymart Gaballo.

Rodriguez (22-2, 13 KOs) is now 3-0 since the second setback, not counting a no-contest against Gary Antonio Russell. And they were among his most impressive victories, over Roberto Cantu, Russell (in a rematch) and now Lopez.

He was much better than Lopez (29-2, 19 KOs) even though he fought much of the fight with a badly swollen right eye.

Rodriguez, an excellent technician, simply picked Lopez apart at an arm’s length, landing quick, punishing power shots with accuracy from beginning to end and taking little in return.

Lopez, a Nicaraguan taking a significant step up in opposition, had some good moments — his jab was effective at times, for example — but he was never able to make adjustments necessary to neutralize Rodriguez’s attack and turn the tide.

The final moments of the fight were ugly for Lopez, who suddenly couldn’t stay on his feet under fire from Rodriguez. Time had run out when Lopez got to his feet the final time, saving him from a knockout loss.

The scoring wasn’t surprising. All three judges had it 120-105, 12 rounds to none. Boxing Junkie gave Lopez one round.

“We worked on being powerful and purposeful with our power punches, besides showing off our skills,” Rodriguez said through a translator afterward.

Rodriguez became the fourth of four bantamweight titleholders. The others, whom he will presumably target, are Takuma Inoue (WBA), Alexandro Santiago (WBC) and Jason Moloney (WBO).

Rodriguez, defending his title during his first reign, defeated Moloney by a split decision in October 2018. A rematch makes sense.

However, he’s wants to face another champion next, one with whom he shares ties to the management company Premier Boxing Champions.

“I want Santiago next,” he said of the Mexican, who won his belt by outpointing Nonito Donaire on July 29. “He says that he doesn’t think anybody can beat him at 118 pounds, but I’m here to prove him wrong.”

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Emmanuel Rodriguez shuts out overmatched Melvin Lopez to regain 118-pound belt

Emmanuel Rodriguez shut out overmatched Melvin Lopez to regain a 118-pound belt Saturday in the Washington, D.C. area.

Emmanuel Rodriguez is all the way back. And probably better than he was.

The 31-year Puerto Rican dropped Melvin Lopez three times in the 12th and final round and dominated his foe overall to win a shutout decision Saturday in the Washington, D.C. area, giving Rodriguez the vacant IBF 118-pound title

That’s the same belt he lost by knockout to Naoya Inoue in 2019, a disaster that was followed by another — albeit disputed — loss to Reymart Gaballo.

Rodriguez (22-2, 13 KOs) is now 3-0 since the second setback, not counting a no-contest against Gary Antonio Russell. And they were among his most impressive victories, over Roberto Cantu, Russell (in a rematch) and now Lopez.

He was much better than Lopez (29-2, 19 KOs) even though he fought much of the fight with a badly swollen right eye.

Rodriguez, an excellent technician, simply picked Lopez apart at an arm’s length, landing quick, punishing power shots with accuracy from beginning to end and taking little in return.

Lopez, a Nicaraguan taking a significant step up in opposition, had some good moments — his jab was effective at times, for example — but he was never able to make adjustments necessary to neutralize Rodriguez’s attack and turn the tide.

The final moments of the fight were ugly for Lopez, who suddenly couldn’t stay on his feet under fire from Rodriguez. Time had run out when Lopez got to his feet the final time, saving him from a knockout loss.

The scoring wasn’t surprising. All three judges had it 120-105, 12 rounds to none. Boxing Junkie gave Lopez one round.

“We worked on being powerful and purposeful with our power punches, besides showing off our skills,” Rodriguez said through a translator afterward.

Rodriguez became the fourth of four bantamweight titleholders. The others, whom he will presumably target, are Takuma Inoue (WBA), Alexandro Santiago (WBC) and Jason Moloney (WBO).

Rodriguez, defending his title during his first reign, defeated Moloney by a split decision in October 2018. A rematch makes sense.

However, he’s wants to face another champion next, one with whom he shares ties to the management company Premier Boxing Champions.

“I want Santiago next,” he said of the Mexican, who won his belt by outpointing Nonito Donaire on July 29. “He says that he doesn’t think anybody can beat him at 118 pounds, but I’m here to prove him wrong.”

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Gary Antuanne Russell drops Kent Cruz twice, stops him in first round

Gary Antuanne Russell dropped Kent Cruz twice and stopped him in the first round on the Emmanuel Rodriguez-Melvin Lopez card Saturday.

Gary Antuanne Russell didn’t need much time to keep his knockout streak alive.

The 140-pound contender stopped overmatched Kent Cruz at 2:39 of the opening round of a scheduled 10-rounder on the Emmanuel Rodriguez-Melvin Lopez card Saturday in the Washington, D.C. area, where Russell is from.

Cruz (16-1-3, 10 KOs) came in 2½ pounds overweight — Russell weighed 138½ — but the added bulk certainly didn’t help the St. Louis fighter.

The beginning of the end came midway through the round, when Cruz, apparently preoccupied with what he thought was a clash of heads, was hit with a series of shots and hit the canvas.

Cruz was able to get up but soon went down again from a left to the body and was counted out.

Russell (17-0, 17 KOs) now has eight first-round knockouts.

“I saw the opening and I took it,” Russell said. He went on: “Like I said before, I wasn’t shooting for the knockout streak, but that’s just what happened during a minute and a half worth of work tonight. If the opportunity is there, why not take it?”

He’s ranked No. 2 by the WBC, meaning his first shot at a world title is on the horizon if he continues to win.

In an earlier bout, welterweight prospect Travon Marshall (8-1, 7 KOs) was knocked out by underdog Gabriel Maestre (6-0-1, 5 KOs) in the second round of a scheduled 10-round bout.

Gary Antuanne Russell drops Kent Cruz twice, stops him in first round

Gary Antuanne Russell dropped Kent Cruz twice and stopped him in the first round on the Emmanuel Rodriguez-Melvin Lopez card Saturday.

Gary Antuanne Russell didn’t need much time to keep his knockout streak alive.

The 140-pound contender stopped overmatched Kent Cruz at 2:39 of the opening round of a scheduled 10-rounder on the Emmanuel Rodriguez-Melvin Lopez card Saturday in the Washington, D.C. area, where Russell is from.

Cruz (16-1-3, 10 KOs) came in 2½ pounds overweight — Russell weighed 138½ — but the added bulk certainly didn’t help the St. Louis fighter.

The beginning of the end came midway through the round, when Cruz, apparently preoccupied with what he thought was a clash of heads, was hit with a series of shots and hit the canvas.

Cruz was able to get up but soon went down again from a left to the body and was counted out.

Russell (17-0, 17 KOs) now has eight first-round knockouts.

“I saw the opening and I took it,” Russell said. He went on: “Like I said before, I wasn’t shooting for the knockout streak, but that’s just what happened during a minute and a half worth of work tonight. If the opportunity is there, why not take it?”

He’s ranked No. 2 by the WBC, meaning his first shot at a world title is on the horizon if he continues to win.

In an earlier bout, welterweight prospect Travon Marshall (8-1, 7 KOs) was knocked out by underdog Gabriel Maestre (6-0-1, 5 KOs) in the second round of a scheduled 10-round bout.

Emmanuel Rodriguez believes disappointments are behind him

Emmanuel Rodriguez believes disappointments are behind him going into his title fight with Melvin Lopez on Saturday.

Emmanuel Rodriguez figured he had arrived in 2018.

That was the year the Puerto Rican nearly shut out Paul Butler to win the IBF 118-pound title and then successfully defending it by outpointing capable Jason Moloney five months later. He was on the rise.

And then he wasn’t.

His second defense came in 2019 against none other than Naoya Inoue, arguably the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound. Things didn’t go well, as Rodriguez went down three times and didn’t make it out of the second round.

That was followed by a disputed split-decision loss to Reymart Gaballo and a bizarre 16-second no-contest against Gary Antonio Russell, the result of a head butt that cut Rodriguez on the bridge of his nose.

Things couldn’t have been much worse for Rodriguez, who was winless in three outings and seeming far from another shot at a title. Then the pendulum swung back in his favor.

He knocked out Roberto Cantu after the Russell no-contest in March of last year and then delivered arguably his strongest performance, a 10-round technical decision in a rematch with Russell that also was truncated because of a cut.

That earned the now-31-year-old a fight with Melvin Lopez (29-1, 19 KOs) for the same belt he lost to Inoue on Saturday in Oxon Hill, Maryland (Showtime).

Rodriguez (21-2, 13 KOs) said he’s a better fighter now than he was when he last wore a championship belt.

“I’m more mature and experienced now than I was when I first won the title,” he said. “I will be the fifth world champion from Puerto Rico right now and that would be a privilege. That’s the goal in this fight.

“I guarantee you I’m gonna come out with the win on Saturday, because I’m the toughest opponent he’s ever faced.”

Rodriguez believes he’d be the toughest opponent for any bantamweight.

If he gets past Lopez, who is about a 5-1 underdog, one of Rodriguez’s fellow beltholders could come next.

Alexandro Santiago outpointed Nonito Donaire to win the vacant WBC title on July 29. Takuma Inoue, Naoya’s brother, is the WBA champ. And Moloney, Rodriguez’s earlier victim, holds the WBO title.

Whomever ends up in his face, he expects to have his hand raised. That starts against Lopez on Saturday.

“I’m gonna prove I’m the best fighter in the division,” he said. “This is gonna send a message to all the other champions that I’m here to stay.”

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Emmanuel Rodriguez believes disappointments are behind him

Emmanuel Rodriguez believes disappointments are behind him going into his title fight with Melvin Lopez on Saturday.

Emmanuel Rodriguez figured he had arrived in 2018.

That was the year the Puerto Rican nearly shut out Paul Butler to win the IBF 118-pound title and then successfully defending it by outpointing capable Jason Moloney five months later. He was on the rise.

And then he wasn’t.

His second defense came in 2019 against none other than Naoya Inoue, arguably the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound. Things didn’t go well, as Rodriguez went down three times and didn’t make it out of the second round.

That was followed by a disputed split-decision loss to Reymart Gaballo and a bizarre 16-second no-contest against Gary Antonio Russell, the result of a head butt that cut Rodriguez on the bridge of his nose.

Things couldn’t have been much worse for Rodriguez, who was winless in three outings and seeming far from another shot at a title. Then the pendulum swung back in his favor.

He knocked out Roberto Cantu after the Russell no-contest in March of last year and then delivered arguably his strongest performance, a 10-round technical decision in a rematch with Russell that also was truncated because of a cut.

That earned the now-31-year-old a fight with Melvin Lopez (29-1, 19 KOs) for the same belt he lost to Inoue on Saturday in Oxon Hill, Maryland (Showtime).

Rodriguez (21-2, 13 KOs) said he’s a better fighter now than he was when he last wore a championship belt.

“I’m more mature and experienced now than I was when I first won the title,” he said. “I will be the fifth world champion from Puerto Rico right now and that would be a privilege. That’s the goal in this fight.

“I guarantee you I’m gonna come out with the win on Saturday, because I’m the toughest opponent he’s ever faced.”

Rodriguez believes he’d be the toughest opponent for any bantamweight.

If he gets past Lopez, who is about a 5-1 underdog, one of Rodriguez’s fellow beltholders could come next.

Alexandro Santiago outpointed Nonito Donaire to win the vacant WBC title on July 29. Takuma Inoue, Naoya’s brother, is the WBA champ. And Moloney, Rodriguez’s earlier victim, holds the WBO title.

Whomever ends up in his face, he expects to have his hand raised. That starts against Lopez on Saturday.

“I’m gonna prove I’m the best fighter in the division,” he said. “This is gonna send a message to all the other champions that I’m here to stay.”

[lawrence-related id=38468]

Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez: date, time, how to watch, background

Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez: date, time, how to watch, background.

Emmanuel Rodriguez and Melvin Lopez are scheduled to fight for a vacant 118-pound title Saturday in the Washington, D.C. area.

EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ (21-2, 13 KOs)
VS. MELVIN LOPEZ (29-1, 19 KOs)

Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino, Oxon Hill, Maryland
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Bantamweight (118 pounds)
At stake: Vacant IBF title
Odds: Rodriguez 5½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Pound-for-pound: None
Also on the card: Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Kent Cruz, junior welterweights; Travon Marshall vs. Gabriel Maestre, welterweights; Marcus Browne vs. Adrian Taylor, cruiserweights
Prediction: Rodriguez UD
Background: Rodriguez had an outstanding 2018, when he easily outpointed Paul Butler to win the vacant IBF title and then narrowly outpointed Jason Moloney in his first defense. Then came disaster. He lost his perfect record and belt to Naoya Inoue in May 2019, when the Japanese star put him down three times and stopped in the second round. That was followed by a split-decision loss against to Reymart Gaballo and a no-contest against Gary Antonio Russell (as the result of a cut). Then the 30-year-old Puerto Rican reasserted himself as a top fighter. He stopped Roberto Cantu in one round this past March and easily outpointed Russell to win an impressive 10-round technical decision in another fight cut short by a cut in October. Lopez is a formidable boxer-puncher from Nicaragua who will be taking part in his first title fight. He has won eight consecutive fights since he was stopped by Jose Velasquez in 2019. Rodriguez is a significant step up in opposition for Lopez.

Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez: date, time, how to watch, background

Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez: date, time, how to watch, background.

Emmanuel Rodriguez and Melvin Lopez are scheduled to fight for a vacant 118-pound title Saturday in the Washington, D.C. area.

EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ (21-2, 13 KOs)
VS. MELVIN LOPEZ (29-1, 19 KOs)

Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino, Oxon Hill, Maryland
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Bantamweight (118 pounds)
At stake: Vacant IBF title
Odds: Rodriguez 5½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Pound-for-pound: None
Also on the card: Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Kent Cruz, junior welterweights; Travon Marshall vs. Gabriel Maestre, welterweights; Marcus Browne vs. Adrian Taylor, cruiserweights
Prediction: Rodriguez UD
Background: Rodriguez had an outstanding 2018, when he easily outpointed Paul Butler to win the vacant IBF title and then narrowly outpointed Jason Moloney in his first defense. Then came disaster. He lost his perfect record and belt to Naoya Inoue in May 2019, when the Japanese star put him down three times and stopped in the second round. That was followed by a split-decision loss against to Reymart Gaballo and a no-contest against Gary Antonio Russell (as the result of a cut). Then the 30-year-old Puerto Rican reasserted himself as a top fighter. He stopped Roberto Cantu in one round this past March and easily outpointed Russell to win an impressive 10-round technical decision in another fight cut short by a cut in October. Lopez is a formidable boxer-puncher from Nicaragua who will be taking part in his first title fight. He has won eight consecutive fights since he was stopped by Jose Velasquez in 2019. Rodriguez is a significant step up in opposition for Lopez.

Fight Week: Joshua-Helenius and Navarrete-Valdez, Rodriguez-Lopez title fights

Fight Week: Anthony Joshua will face Robert Helenius. Plus, Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez and Emmanuel Rodriguez-Melvin Lopez title fights.

FIGHT WEEK

Emanuel Navarrete will defend his 130-pound belt against former champ Oscar Valdez in Arizona while Emmanuel Rodriguez and Melvin Lopez fight for a vacant 118-pound title in Maryland. Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua’s fight is up in the air.

ANTHONY JOSHUA (25-3, 22 KOs) VS. ROBERT HELENIUS (32-4, 21 KOs)

Editor’s note: This article will be updated when the status of Anthony Joshua’s fight on Saturday is announced.

Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: O2 Arena, London
TV/Stream: DAZN (in U.S.)
Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: NA
Pound-for-pound: None
Also on the card: Filip Hrgovic vs. Demsey McKean; Heavyweight; Johnny Fisher vs. Harry Armstrong; Heavyweight
Prediction: Joshua UD
Background: Joshua was supposed to have faced Dillian Whyte in a rematch but Whyte was pulled from the card after failing a drug test. Organizers were searching for replacement at the time this item was posted. Longtime contender Robert Helenius agreed on Tuesday to step in. Joshua, the former heavyweight champion, is coming off a one-sided unanimous decision over Jermaine Franklin this past April. That was his first fight since back-to-back decision losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and last year that cost him his titles and damaged his reputation. The Englishman has been working with American trainer Derrick James. He reportedly has been in talks to face former titleholder Deontay Wilder in his next fight. Helenius will have fought on consecutive weekends. He knocked out Mika Mielonen in three rounds on Aug. 5 in Finland, which obviously wasn’t a physically taxing fight. Helenius was stopped by Wilder in the first round last October.

EMANUEL NAVARRETE (37-1, 31 KOs)
VS. OSCAR VALDEZ (31-1, 23 KOs)

Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
At stake: Navarrete’s WBO title
Odds: Valdez 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Pound-for-pound: None

Also on the card: Raymond Muratalla vs. Diego Torres, lightweights; Lindolfo Delgado vs. Jair Valtierra, junior welterweights; Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Willie Jake Jr., heavyweights
Prediction: Valdez UD
Background: Navarrete will be making the first defense of the title he won by knocking out Liam Wilson in the ninth round of a wild fight in which both men went down this past February in the same venue. The volume-punching Mexican, a former 122- and 126-pound titleholder, has been undefeated since he lost a decision in a four-rounder in his sixth professional fight. Valdez, also Mexican, is on the comeback trail after he was outclassed in a 130-pound title-unification bout against the gifted Shakur Stevenson in April of last year. Stevenson won a one-sided decision. Valdez bounced back to defeat capable Adam Lopez by a wide decision this past May, which earned him a shot at Navarrete’s title. Valdez also held the WBO 126-pound title between 2016 and 2019.

EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ (21-2, 13 KOs)
VS. MELVIN LOPEZ (29-1, 19 KOs)

Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino, Oxon Hill, Maryland
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Bantamweight (118 pounds)
At stake: Vacant IBF title
Odds: Rodriguez 5½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Pound-for-pound: None

Also on the card: Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Kent Cruz, junior welterweights; Travon Marshall vs. Gabriel Maestre, welterweights; Marcus Browne vs. Adrian Taylor, cruiserweights
Prediction: Rodriguez UD
Background: Rodriguez had an outstanding 2018, when he easily outpointed Paul Butler to win the vacant IBF title and then narrowly outpointed Jason Moloney in his first defense. Then came disaster. He lost his perfect record and belt to Naoya Inoue in May 2019, when the Japanese star put him down three times and stopped in the second round. That was followed by a split-decision loss against to Reymart Gaballo and a no-contest against Gary Antonio Russell (as the result of a cut). Then the 30-year-old Puerto Rican reasserted himself as a top fighter. He stopped Roberto Cantu in one round this past March and easily outpointed Russell to win an impressive 10-round technical decision in another fight cut short by a cut in October. Lopez is a formidable boxer-puncher from Nicaragua who will be taking part in his first title fight. He has won eight consecutive fights since he was stopped by Jose Velasquez in 2019. Rodriguez is a significant step up in opposition for Lopez.

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY

Otar Eranosyan vs. Roger Gutierrez, junior lightweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)

FRIDAY

Albert Bell vs. Presco Carcosia, junior lightweights, Atlanta (DAZN)

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Fight Week: Joshua-Helenius and Navarrete-Valdez, Rodriguez-Lopez title fights

Fight Week: Anthony Joshua will face Robert Helenius. Plus, Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez and Emmanuel Rodriguez-Melvin Lopez title fights.

FIGHT WEEK

Emanuel Navarrete will defend his 130-pound belt against former champ Oscar Valdez in Arizona while Emmanuel Rodriguez and Melvin Lopez fight for a vacant 118-pound title in Maryland. Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua’s fight is up in the air.

ANTHONY JOSHUA (25-3, 22 KOs) VS. ROBERT HELENIUS (32-4, 21 KOs)

Editor’s note: This article will be updated when the status of Anthony Joshua’s fight on Saturday is announced.

Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: O2 Arena, London
TV/Stream: DAZN (in U.S.)
Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: NA
Pound-for-pound: None
Also on the card: Filip Hrgovic vs. Demsey McKean; Heavyweight; Johnny Fisher vs. Harry Armstrong; Heavyweight
Prediction: Joshua UD
Background: Joshua was supposed to have faced Dillian Whyte in a rematch but Whyte was pulled from the card after failing a drug test. Organizers were searching for replacement at the time this item was posted. Longtime contender Robert Helenius agreed on Tuesday to step in. Joshua, the former heavyweight champion, is coming off a one-sided unanimous decision over Jermaine Franklin this past April. That was his first fight since back-to-back decision losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and last year that cost him his titles and damaged his reputation. The Englishman has been working with American trainer Derrick James. He reportedly has been in talks to face former titleholder Deontay Wilder in his next fight. Helenius will have fought on consecutive weekends. He knocked out Mika Mielonen in three rounds on Aug. 5 in Finland, which obviously wasn’t a physically taxing fight. Helenius was stopped by Wilder in the first round last October.

EMANUEL NAVARRETE (37-1, 31 KOs)
VS. OSCAR VALDEZ (31-1, 23 KOs)

Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
At stake: Navarrete’s WBO title
Odds: Valdez 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Pound-for-pound: None

Also on the card: Raymond Muratalla vs. Diego Torres, lightweights; Lindolfo Delgado vs. Jair Valtierra, junior welterweights; Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Willie Jake Jr., heavyweights
Prediction: Valdez UD
Background: Navarrete will be making the first defense of the title he won by knocking out Liam Wilson in the ninth round of a wild fight in which both men went down this past February in the same venue. The volume-punching Mexican, a former 122- and 126-pound titleholder, has been undefeated since he lost a decision in a four-rounder in his sixth professional fight. Valdez, also Mexican, is on the comeback trail after he was outclassed in a 130-pound title-unification bout against the gifted Shakur Stevenson in April of last year. Stevenson won a one-sided decision. Valdez bounced back to defeat capable Adam Lopez by a wide decision this past May, which earned him a shot at Navarrete’s title. Valdez also held the WBO 126-pound title between 2016 and 2019.

EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ (21-2, 13 KOs)
VS. MELVIN LOPEZ (29-1, 19 KOs)

Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino, Oxon Hill, Maryland
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Bantamweight (118 pounds)
At stake: Vacant IBF title
Odds: Rodriguez 5½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Pound-for-pound: None

Also on the card: Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Kent Cruz, junior welterweights; Travon Marshall vs. Gabriel Maestre, welterweights; Marcus Browne vs. Adrian Taylor, cruiserweights
Prediction: Rodriguez UD
Background: Rodriguez had an outstanding 2018, when he easily outpointed Paul Butler to win the vacant IBF title and then narrowly outpointed Jason Moloney in his first defense. Then came disaster. He lost his perfect record and belt to Naoya Inoue in May 2019, when the Japanese star put him down three times and stopped in the second round. That was followed by a split-decision loss against to Reymart Gaballo and a no-contest against Gary Antonio Russell (as the result of a cut). Then the 30-year-old Puerto Rican reasserted himself as a top fighter. He stopped Roberto Cantu in one round this past March and easily outpointed Russell to win an impressive 10-round technical decision in another fight cut short by a cut in October. Lopez is a formidable boxer-puncher from Nicaragua who will be taking part in his first title fight. He has won eight consecutive fights since he was stopped by Jose Velasquez in 2019. Rodriguez is a significant step up in opposition for Lopez.

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY

Otar Eranosyan vs. Roger Gutierrez, junior lightweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)

FRIDAY

Albert Bell vs. Presco Carcosia, junior lightweights, Atlanta (DAZN)

[lawrence-related id=35413]