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Saturday night time in Oxon Hill, MD, Emmanuel Rodriguez acquired again the IBF bantamweight crown with spectacular 12 spherical resolution over Melvin Lopez that was a close to stoppage within the ultimate seconds.
The primary occasion of the Showtime Boxing/PBC triple header noticed the Puerto Rican Rodriguez dropped the Nicaraguan born Lopez not simply as soon as, however 3 times within the ultimate 40 seconds of the bout, however the ultimate bell saved him. The scores mirrored the Rodriguez blowout twelfth spherical at 120-105 on all three playing cards,
.@ERodriguezManny on 🔝
Rodriguez claimed a unanimous resolution over Lopez to safe the IBF bantamweight title 🏆#RodriguezLopez pic.twitter.com/11qHW5mj3C
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) August 13, 2023
From the Showtime recap:
“Emmanuel Rodriguez turned a two-time IBF bantamweight champion Saturday night time, securing a unanimous decision over Melvin Lopez in headlining motion reside on SHOWTIME from The Theater at MGM Nationwide Harbor in Maryland in an occasion offered by Premier Boxing Champions.
Rodriguez (22-2, 13 KOs) sustained swelling over his proper eye within the second spherical of the 12-round battle, and despite the fact that the attention ballooned because the battle wore on, he outclassed his opponent to the tune of 120-105 scores in his favor from all three judges.
“That is the results of six months of laborious work in Mexico,” mentioned Rodriguez, who’s from Puerto Rico. “This wouldn’t have been attainable with out my complete group. I used to be capable of develop into a champion as soon as once more 5 years later due to them. Let’s go Latin America, let’s go Puerto Rico, and let’s go Mexico!
“I remained calm regardless of the headbutt that brought on my eye to swell up within the second spherical It stored getting extra swollen, however my group did an impressive job maintaining it at bay. I by no means had an issue with my eyesight all through the battle.”
Rodriguez put an exclamation level on the victory by flattening Lopez (29-2, 19 KOs) 3 times within the ultimate spherical, attacking him with a flurry of punches that put Lopez on the ropes.
“We labored on being highly effective and purposeful with our energy punches, moreover exhibiting off our expertise,” Rodriguez mentioned.
“I need Santiago subsequent. He says that he doesn’t assume anyone can beat him at 118 kilos, however I’m right here to show him mistaken.”
Within the co-main occasion, Capitol Heights, Maryland native Gary Antuanne Russell (17-0, 17 KOs) made quick work of previously undefeated Kent Cruz (16-1-3, 10 KOs), securing his eighth profession first-round knockout by sending Cruz to the canvas two minutes and 39 seconds into the tremendous light-weight bout. Russell, a 2016 U.S. Olympian, first knocked down Cruz with a left uppercut to the chin, then ended the battle with a dizzying physique blow.
“That is clearly good,” Russell mentioned. “I noticed the opening and I took it, and I used to be making an attempt to stay disciplined defensively on the similar time. Greater than something, I used to be making an attempt to ensure I might finish it within the first spherical.”
Kicking off the telecast, Gabriel Maestre (6-0-1, 5 KOs) got here out blazing and knocked down beforehand undefeated Capitol Heights, Maryland native Travon Marshall (8-1, 7 KOs) twice en path to securing a second-round TKO. A two-time Olympian, “El Capitan” used a vicious mixture to ship Marshall by the ropes on the 2:06 mark of the second spherical within the one-sided welterweight bout.
“I didn’t count on this knockout,” Maestre mentioned. “I wish to thank my group for serving to me put together for this battle. This victory is for Venezuela. We practiced that proper hand that hit Travon. I hope that he recovers rapidly.
“I used to be truthfully shocked I knocked Marshall out so rapidly. He’s a tricky, younger fighter.”
Again to Emmanuel Rodriguez, who beforehand received the IBF strap with a 12 spherical victory over Paul Butler in 2018 earlier than being kayoed two fights later by Naoya Inoue, he’s probably in line for a unification bout upcoming with Mexican Alex Santiago. Santiago just upset future hall of famer Nonito Donaire by resolution late final month in Las Vegas for the WBC 118 lb. crown on the undercard of Terence Crawford’s PPV KO of Errol Spence.
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