Showtime Boxing returns on Saturday with a bantamweight title fight live from the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD. Former IBF bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (21-2, 13 KOs) will face Melvin Lopez (29-1, 19 KOs) for the vacant WBC title. This is a good fight, and it will look to provide fireworks as the lower-weight classes usually do.
Rodriguez’s last fight didn’t end the way he wanted as the fight went to the scorecards after ten rounds due to an accidental headbutt against Gary Antonio Russell. Rodriguez won by technical decision as all three judges had him dominating on the scorecards. After losing his title to Naoya Inoue in 2019, Rodriguez looks to regain his status as a champion as he fights for the vacant title. Will Puerto Rico have another world champion come Saturday night?
NEXT FIGHT: On 8/12, former world champ @ERodriguezManny takes on Melvin Lopez for the vacant IBF 118-LB World Championship. PLUS, @AntuanneRussell returns to battle @kentcruz1992 in a 10RD lightweight bout.#RodriguezLopez fight night details: https://t.co/uAaTbgDIbz pic.twitter.com/WYBgBwFg7O
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) July 31, 2023
Lopez has been staying active down in Florida and fighting on smaller shows. His last fight was in December, where he scored a narrow-split decision victory over Jobert Alvarez. Although close, Lopez did score a knockdown in the fight, but Alvarez recovered and made it a close enough fight but could not secure the victory. Lopez now brings that come-forward style against Rodriguez, which makes for a great action fight. Can Lopez put it all together and beat Rodriguez to win the WBC title?
EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ VS. MELVIN LOPEZ BETTING ODDS
Per BetOnline.ag, Emmanuel Rodriguez is the favorite at -650 & while Melvin Lopez is the underdog at +425.
EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ VS. MELVIN LOPEZ DATE, START TIME
- Date: Saturday, August 12
- Start time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT
These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights.
👊 #RodriguezLopez
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) August 7, 2023
🏆 IBF Bantamweight World Championship
🗓 Saturday 9PM ET/6PM PT
📺 @showtime pic.twitter.com/tWrQHlVIv8
WHAT CHANNEL/STREAM IS EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ VS. MELVIN LOPEZ?
- U.S.: Showtime
- UK: TBD
EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ VS. MELVIN LOPEZ FIGHT CARD
- Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez; For the vacant IBF world bantamweight title
- Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Kent Cruz; super lightweight
- Travon Marshall vs. Gabriel Maestre; welterweight
