Fight Preview
At the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, former IBF bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez takes on Melvin Lopez. This is a great contest since both men have a chance to not only win the championship but also be featured on another Showtime program in the future.
Rodriguez has recently retired from boxing, but not too long ago he competed in the WBSS (World Boxing Super Series) as the IBF bantamweight champion. He was 27 at the time, and he had no idea that his opponent was just getting started on a remarkable streak. Inoue knocked out Rodriguez in the second round of their 2019 battle, which resulted in Rodriguez losing his title but not his career.
He was coming off a loss to Reymart Gaballo in his next bout, although he had a no-contest and two wins leading up to Saturday. Rodriguez is not a bad boxer; he’s merely taken on the division’s hardest opponents, which is a dangerous strategy.
On Saturday night, Rodriguez will try to recapture his former momentum and his status as a champion. To accomplish this, he will need to make good use of his feet, maintain a strategic spacing, and prevent Lopez from gaining leverage on his looping swings.
Lopez, only 25, has worked his way up to a title shot on Showtime via sheer determination and grit. He has primarily competed in local events in Nicaragua and South Florida. His only loss came in 2019 when he was knocked out by Jose Velasquez in the ninth round. Since then, Lopez has won eight consecutive matches, with only one going to a third round.
Lopez relies on his strength to get things done, but he’ll need to switch gears to beat Rodriguez. Since Rodriguez is a shrewd boxer who prefers the ring to the brawl, Lopez will need to demonstrate his own boxing prowess in order to win. Lopez will have a tough time, but if he can land one of his punches properly, he has a puncher’s chance to make things interesting.
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Emmanuel Rodriguez vs Melvin Lopez Fight Information
- Date: 08/12/2023
- Time: 10:00 PM ET
- Location: The Theater at MGM National Harbor.
- How to Watch Emmanuel Rodriguez vs Melvin Lopez: ESPN+
- Live Stream: sho.com
