By Ken Hissner: At the MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, Saturday over Showtime, Tom Brown (TGB Promotions) presented in the Main Event former IBF World Bantamweight champion Emmanuel “Manny” Rodriguez regaining the title, shutting out Melvin “Melo” Lopez along with three knockdowns for the vacant IBF World Bantamweight title. In the co-main event, 2016 Olympian unbeaten Gary Antuanne Russell scored his seventeenth straight stoppage over previously unbeaten Kent Cruz in the first round.
In the Main Event, former IBF World Bantam champ and No. 2 ranked Emmanuel “Manny” Rodriguez, 21-2-1nc (13), #118, of Vega Baja, PR, No. 3 ranked southpaw Melvin “Melo” Lopez, 29-1 (19), #117, of Managua, NIC, Miami, FL, 12 rounds, for the vacant IBF World Bantamweight title.
In the first round, both were busy mostly with jabs in a close round that Lopez may have pulled out with Rodriguez, the aggressor. In the second round halfway point, Rodriguez landed a solid combination to the chin of Lopez getting his attention in taking the round. In the third round, Rodriguez outworked Lopez, who, in the final minute, got in a good left to the chin of Rodriguez.
In the fourth round, Rodriguez has some swelling around the right eye from a possible clash of heads in the previous round. He did enough in a close round to take it. In the fifth round, Rodriguez landed several solid rights to the chin of Lopez. There was a clash of heads in the final seconds of the round.
n the sixth round, Lopez used a good jab but didn’t follow up for the most part. He countered a right from Rodriguez with a left on the chin halfway through the round. The swelling continues to get a little larger around the right eye of Rodriguez while he seems to take another round.
In the seventh round final half minute, Rodriguez rocked Lopez with a lead right on the chin. At the eighth round’s halfway point, Rodriguez landed a solid right on the chin of Lopez, having him in a corner. In the final thirty seconds, Rodriguez landed a four-punch combination to the chin of Lopez.
In the tenth round, though, seemingly winning every round, the face of Rodriguez looks the worse for wear. In the eleventh round, Lopez finally landed a solid left on the chin of Rodriguez, getting his attention halfway through the round but not following up.
For the most part, he spends too much time backing against the ropes. In the twelfth and final round halfway point a Rodriguez jab snapped the head of Lopez back and followed up with a combination seconds later, hurting Lopez.
In the final minute, Rodriguez dropped Lopez with a left to the body for an 8-count from Referee Dave Braslow. Within seconds he again dropped Lopez with a flurry for an 8-count. In the final seconds, he dropped Lopez for a third time with a flurry of punches as the bell ended the round.
All scores were 120-105, as did KH.
In the co-main Event 2016 Olympian Super Light southpaw Gary Antuanne Russell, 17-0 (17), #138.4, of Capitol Heights, MD, stopped Kent Cruz, 16-1-3 (10), #142.5, of St. Louis, MO, at 2:39 of the first round of a scheduled ten rounds scoring a pair of knockdowns.
In the first round, Russell was all over Cruz halfway through the round with a clash of heads and Russell landing a flurry of punches dropping Cruz for an 8-count from Referee Bill Clancy. Upon rising, Cruz was hit by a Russell right to the head and a left to the body and down.
Welter Travon “The Sniper” Marshall, 8-1 (7), #146.8, of Capitol Heights, MD, was stopped by 2012 and 2016 Olympian Gabriel Maestre, 6-0-1 (5), #146.6, of Barcelona, VZ, and Las Vegas, NV, at 2:06 of the second round of a scheduled ten rounds.
In the first round, there was no feeling out but plenty of action. Both had their moments with Maestre, the aggressor. In the second round, Maestre drove Marshall into the ropes, starting with a lead right and finishing with a double left hook and down for an 8-count from Referee Sharon Sands.
Maestre was all over him as Marshall tried fighting back to no avail with a dozen unanswered punches before Referee Sands finally stepped in went he went down for a second time.
Bantam Michael Angeletti, 9-0 (7), #117 ¾, of New Orleans, LA, defeated Jonathan “Bum Bum” Lopez Marcano, 8-1-2 (4), #118 ½, of Humacao, PR, over ten rounds.
Referee Eric Irizarry. Scores 79-73 twice and 80-72.
Middle Jose “Merciless” Benavidez, Jr., 28-2-1 (19), #158 ½, of Phoenix, AZ, stopped Sladan “Balkan Super Star” Janjanin, 36-16 (25), #160 ½, of Bosnia & Herzegovina, after five rounds of a scheduled ten rounds. Referee Brent Bovell
Light Heavy Jesse “Hard Work” Hart, 29-3 (23), #172 ¼, of Philadelphia, PA, stopped Elio “La Maquina” Heraldo Trosch, 15-11-2 (7), #174 ½, of Santiago Del Estero, ARG, at 2:37 in the second round of a scheduled ten rounds.
In the second round, Hart stopped Trosch, for Referee Bill Clancy saw enough.
Cruiser southpaw Marcus Browne, 25-2 (16), #198 ½, of Carteret, NJ, defeated Adrian “Montu-Ra” 13-2-1 (5), #204, of Dallas, TX, over ten rounds.
The referee was Brent Bovel. All scores were 100-90.
Bantam Damien “Sugar” Vasquez, 18-3-1 (10), #120, of Las Vegas, stopped Jeronil Borres, 12-9-2 (6), #121 ½, of Cagayan de Oro City, PH, in the sixth round of a scheduled eight rounds.
In the sixth round, Vasquez knocked down Borres three times, forcing referee Sharon Sands to call a halt.
Super Welter David A. Whitmire, 3-0 (2), #149 ½, of Washington, D.C., stopped Jordy Tientcheu, 0-2 (0), #145 ½, of Monroe, MI, at 2:41 of the first round of a scheduled four rounds.
In the first round, referee Brent Bovell stopped the fight with Tientcheu defenseless.
Super Middle Daniel “Ice Man” Blancas, 7-0 (4), #166 ½, of Milwaukee, WI, defeated Devaun Lee, 11-10-1 (6), #166, of Jamaica, Queens, NY, over six rounds.
Referee Bill Clancy. All scores were 60-54.