Former IBF bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez is ready to hold gold once again. The 30-year-old faces 25-year-old Melvin Lopez for the vacant belt on August 12.
Rodriguez vs. Lopez emanates from the MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino in Maryland. It airs on Showtime in the U.S.
A 2010 Youth Olympic Games gold medalist, Rodriguez turned pro in 2012. In 2018, he beat Paul Butler for the title but lost the belt in 2019 against Naoya Inoue.
After failing to capture interim gold in his next fight, Rodriguez has won back-to-back fights, his last bout a win in October against Gary Antonio Russell. "Manny” is now ready to reclaim the top spot within bantamweight.
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“We’re coming to knock Melvin Lopez out,” Rodriguez said in a pre-fight training camp. “I believe that I will be dominating the fight by the sixth, seventh, or eighth round. It’s going to be just a matter of time.
“Our goal is to drive him back because we know he has an aggressive style and reputation. We’re going to prevent that by fighting in the middle of the ring or pinning him against the ropes. If we have to adjust, I’m confident we’ll still be successful.”
Lopez turned pro in 2015. The Nicaraguan is on an eight-fight win streak, with seven coming via KO/TKO. His last bout was a split-decision win in December against Jobert Alvarez.
Here's all you need to know about Rodriguez vs. Lopez, from time, channel, odds, and card information.
When is Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez?
Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez is on August 12. The main card starts at 9 p.m. ET or 6 p.m. PT. The main event fighters should make their way to the ring around 11:15 p.m. ET or 8:15 p.m. PT, depending on how long the undercard fights last. Here's how that translates to different timezones globally:
| Region | Date | Main Card Start Time | Main Event Ring Walks (approx.) |
| USA and Canada (ET) | Saturday, July 15 | 9 p.m. ET | 11:15 p.m. ET |
| USA and Canada (PT) | Saturday, July 15 | 6 p.m. PT | 8:15 p.m. PT |
| UK and Ireland | Sunday, July 16 | 2 a.m. BST | 4:15 a.m. BST |
| Australia | Sunday, July 16 | 11 a.m. AEST | 1:15 p.m. AEST |
How to watch Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez
| Region | TV channel | Live streaming |
| USA | Showtime | — |
| Canada | — | TBA |
| UK and Ireland | — | TBA |
| Australia | — | TBA |
Rodriguez vs. Lopez will be on Showtime in the U.S. Viewers can stream Showtime via Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox ONE, a laptop, or any mobile or tablet device.
Where is Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez?
Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez emanates inside MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino in Maryland. The arena in the casino can hold up to 4,000 people.
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Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez betting odds
Per Caesars, Emmanuel Rodriguez is the -500 favorite, while Melvin Lopez is the +380 underdog.
In Canada, per Sports Interaction, Emmanuel Rodriguez is the -714 favorite, while Melvin Lopez is the +450 underdog.
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Emmanuel Rodriguez record, bio
- Nationality: Puerto Rican
- Born: August 8, 1992
- Height: 5-6
- Reach: 66.5 inches
- Total fights: 23
- Record: 21-2 with 13 wins via knockout
Melvin Lopez record, bio
- Nationality: Nicaraguan
- Born: November 12, 1997
- Height: 5-6
- Reach: 68 inches
- Total fights: 30
- Record: 29-1 with 19 wins via knockout
Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez fight card
- Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez; for the IBF bantamweight title
- Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Kent Cruz; super lightweights
- Travon Marshall vs. Gabriel Maestre; welterweights
