Rodriguez Vs. Lopez Pre-Fight Presser
Emmanuel Rodriguez and Melvin Lopez held their pre-fight presser ahead of their bout on August 12th, 2023, for the IBF bantamweight title after Naoya Inoue vacated it to move up to 122 pounds.
Rodriguez’s (21-2, 13 KOs) last fight was a decision win over Gary Antonio Russell, which was his second victory on the bounce.
Meanwhile, Lopez last entered the ring in 2022 when he secured a split-decision win over Jobert Alvarez. That was the latter’s eighth win on the bounce, as his confidence is riding high.
🚨 New video🚨
With Naoya Inoue vacating his bantamweight titles, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Melvin Lopez will be fighting for the IBF bantamweight title🥊
This will be a scrappy fight but who will capture this world title?🤔#boxing #RodriguezLopez
YouTube: https://t.co/9Nq6lgVjyg pic.twitter.com/52jSusSRr1— All Takes No Whiffs (@alltakes0whiffs) August 9, 2023
In chief support, there is a battle of two undefeated fighters, Gary Antuanne Russell and Kent Cruz, who face off in a junior welterweight bout.
Meanwhile, Travon Marshall fights against the undefeated Gabriel Maestre in a welterweight fight.
With that being said, here were the key quotes from the presser.
Quotes
This isn't @ERodriguezManny first championship fight. He's been there before and he believes he will do it again Saturday night on @ShowtimeBoxing. #RodriguezLopez pic.twitter.com/U0RtXLlrkH
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) August 10, 2023
“I’m more mature and experienced now and I am going to do it [win in title fight] again,” Rodriguez
"I am the toughest opponent that he's ever faced."@ERodriguezManny isn't worried about what Melvin Lopez has against previous opponents 💪#RodriguezLopez for the IBF Bantamweight Title goes down Saturday at 9pm ET/6pm PT on @Showtime. pic.twitter.com/ALE7dj6XPq
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) August 10, 2023
“He may have seven stoppages, but none of those stoppages were me. I guarantee you that I’m going to come out with a win,” Rodriguez
Melvin Lopez says "It will be a mix of happiness and absolute pride" to become the only current Champion from Nicaragua if he becomes victorious Saturday on @showtimeboxing. #RodriguezLopez pic.twitter.com/FMzb5LWgFR
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) August 10, 2023
“It will be a mixture of happiness and absolute pride in being part of a select list of Nicaraguan champions,” Lopez
"I'm kind of like an animal that looks for his prey."
Melvin Lopez isn't going to make it easy for Emmanuel Rodriguez in the ring 💥#RodriguezLopez pic.twitter.com/qaVNURvdnL
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) August 10, 2023
“Preparation is key. I’ve had a great preparation. And I’m kind of like an animal that looks for its prey,” Lopez
.@kentcruz1992 has beaten the last 3 southpaws he's faced 👀
Can he do it again against Gary Antuanne Russell? #RodriguezLopez press conference 👉 https://t.co/uR2nZyMaRQ pic.twitter.com/J95Swsovp1
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) August 10, 2023
“It’s my third southpaw. We’ve been training for southpaws for the last couple of camps…so it’s a little bit easier for me to maintain what we’ve been doing,” Cruz
"I was gone far too long but it feels good to be back 😀." – @AntuanneRussell. #RussellCruz pic.twitter.com/Iq03fHeURE
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) August 10, 2023
“You will see a grade-A performance. I was gone far too long, it feels good to be back,” Russell
.@AntuanneRussell isn't worried about keeping his KO streak, just getting the win 👊#RodriguezLopez press conference: https://t.co/uR2nZyMaRQ pic.twitter.com/PM9tc1AqJO
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) August 10, 2023
“It’s a good thing to have a [knockout streak,] but the object of this whole sport is to continue to win,” Russell
Where And When
The main card starts at 9pm ET. The ring walks should take place approximately at 11pm ET.
Make sure you catch the fight live on FIGHTSPORTS and FIGHTSPORTS MAX in the countries below.
FIGHT SPORTS NETWORK:
Pan-Asia-Pacific (excluding China, Australia, NZ)
India + Sub-Continent
Spain
Portugal
Greece/Cyprus
Albania
Ex-Yugoslavia
MENA
Israel
Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde
FIGHT SPORTS MAX:
Pan-Asia-Pacific (excluding China, Australia, NZ);
India + Sub-Continent
Spain
Portugal
MENA
Full Card
Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Melvin Lopez – bantamweight
Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Kent Cruz – super lightweight
Travon Marshall vs. Gabriel Maestre – welterweight
Michael Angeletti vs. Jonathan Lopez Marcano – bantamweight
Jose Benavidez Jr vs. Sladan Janjanin – middleweight
Damien Vazquez vs. Jeronil Borres – bantamweight
Jesse Hart vs. Elio Heraldo Trosch – light heavyweight
David A. Whitmire vs. Jordy Tientcheu – super welterweight
Daniel Blancas vs. Devaun Lee – super middleweight