Rodriguez Becomes Champ; Russell and Maestre Floor Their Foes
Emmanuel Rodriguez (22-2, 13KO) made it look easy against Melvin “Melo” Lopez (29-2, 19KO) to become a two-time champion by winning the vacant IBF bantamweight title.
After watching two back-to-back early stoppages, boxing fans watched Rodriguez pitch a shutout as he landed that straight right-hand with ease. He was sharp in every aspect of the contest, winning the four major criteria in judging the fight. Lopez looked like a deer in headlights and never took his head off the center line. Moreover, he was on the back foot the entire fight and never mounted any offense.
In the final round, the Puerto Rican, with a swollen right eye, started to let those hands go and landed a body shot that sent Melo to the canvas. He finally gave the fans something to cheer for by scoring two more knockdowns at the final bell.
All three judges scored it 120-105 in favor of Rodriguez. It was a good victory, and if he can continue to fight this way, the sky is the limit. In the post-fight interview, he expressed interest in fighting a unification against WBC champion Alexandro Santiago.
GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL MAKES QUICK WORK OF KENT CRUZ
Top junior welterweight Gary Antuanne Russell (17-0, 17KO) made quick work of undefeated fighter Kent Cruz (16-1-1, 10KO).
The fighter’s ring walk lasted longer than the actual fight. The youngest of the Russell clan continues to look impressive with each fight. He came out sharp and immediately established the jab and the straight left hand to the body.
After a slight clash of heads, Cruz made the mistake of looking at the referee, which was costly as he got knocked down by a brutal shot from Russell. As the fight continued, Russell landed a debilitating body shot that put Cruz on the canvas for good in the first round.
Scoring his eighth straight first-round stoppage, Russell is ready to challenge the big names in the division. Ranked number two by the WBC, he is in a prime position to challenge WBC champion Regis Prograis, provided the fight with Devin Haney doesn’t happen.
GABRIEL MAESTRE REMAINS UNDEFEATED AFTER STOPPING TRAVON MARSHALL
In a welterweight contest featuring two undefeated prospects Gabriel Maestre (6-0-1, 5KO) scored a devastating knockout win over Travon Marshall (8-1, 7KO).
Maestre is a highly decorated amateur fighter and two-time Olympian from Venezuela. The main question that circulated from the commentator team was if the 37-year-old had enough left in the tank.
The fight started with Marshall using that seven-inch reach advantage to keep the Venezuelan at bay. Things were looking good for the much younger man until a momentary lapse in judgment turned out to be a crucial mistake.
Marshall got up against the ropes and tried to throw a wide left hook but got laid out on the bottom ropes from a punishing straight right hand.
It quickly turned the tide in favor of Maestre, who turned it on and continuously hit his opponent with more hard shots. After dropping Marshall for a second time, the referee waved off the fight.
Maestre showed that age is nothing but a number with this huge victory and is looking to be fast-tracked to the top of the division.
