Rodriguez to face Lopez for IBF bantamweight championship at MGM National Harbor.

[Tonight Saturday, August 12th]- Former bantamweight world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (21-2, 13KO), will take on Melvin Lopez (29-1, 19KO), in a scheduled 12-round main event for the IBF bantamweight world title, at the MGM National Harbor. Rodriguez will put his eight-fight win streak on the line against the 25yr old Lopez, who currently holds a eight-fight win streak of his own.

In the co-featured bout of the evening former USA Olympian Gary Antunne Russell (16-0, 16KO), will take on fellow undefeated adversary Kent Cruz (16-0-3, 10KO) in a super lightweight showdown, schedule for 10-rounds. A native of Capital Heights, Md, Russell, is a fringed world contender who has made a statement in the super lightweight division, winning all of his 16-professional fights by way of stoppage, thus earning himself a top-five world ranking. Russell will look to add another victory to his record fighting in-front of a hometown crowd in Maryland.

Opening up the televised portion of this Showtime card fight fans will see DMV native, Travon Marshall (8-0, 7KO) of Landover, Md, take on former WBA-Interim World Champion & two-time Venezuelan Olympian Gabriel Maestre (5-0-1, 4KO), in a bout scheduled for 8-rounds in the welterweight division. Marshall is a fast-rising prospect who possesses power in both hands and likes to work behind a long explosive jab like something from out of the 70’s. Maestre will be no easy task, the former Venezuelan Olympian has stopped four of the six opponents who has stepped into the ring with him. For Marshall, defeating a decorated name like Maestre would send the message that he is a real contender at this early stage of his career.