Emmanuel Rodriguez shuts out overmatched Melvin Lopez to regain 118-pound belt

Emmanuel Rodriguez is all the way back. And probably better than he was.

The 31-year Puerto Rican dropped Melvin Lopez three times in the 12th and final round and dominated his foe overall to win a shutout decision Saturday in the Washington, D.C. area, giving Rodriguez the vacant IBF 118-pound title

That’s the same belt he lost by knockout to Naoya Inoue in 2019, a disaster that was followed by another — albeit disputed — loss to Reymart Gaballo.

Rodriguez (22-2, 13 KOs) is now 3-0 since the second setback, not counting a no-contest against Gary Antonio Russell. And they were among his most impressive victories, over Roberto Cantu, Russell (in a rematch) and now Lopez.

He was much better than Lopez (29-2, 19 KOs) even though he fought much of the fight with a badly swollen right eye.

Rodriguez, an excellent technician, simply picked Lopez apart at an arm’s length, landing quick, punishing power shots with accuracy from beginning to end and taking little in return.

Lopez, a Nicaraguan taking a significant step up in opposition, had some good moments — his jab was effective at times, for example — but he was never able to make adjustments necessary to neutralize Rodriguez’s attack and turn the tide.

The final moments of the fight were ugly for Lopez, who suddenly couldn’t stay on his feet under fire from Rodriguez. Time had run out when Lopez got to his feet the final time, saving him from a knockout loss.

The scoring wasn’t surprising. All three judges had it 120-105, 12 rounds to none. Boxing Junkie gave Lopez one round.

“We worked on being powerful and purposeful with our power punches, besides showing off our skills,” Rodriguez said through a translator afterward.

Rodriguez became the fourth of four bantamweight titleholders. The others, whom he will presumably target, are Takuma Inoue (WBA), Alexandro Santiago (WBC) and Jason Moloney (WBO).

Rodriguez, defending his title during his first reign, defeated Moloney by a split decision in October 2018. A rematch makes sense.

However, he’s wants to face another champion next, one with whom he shares ties to the management company Premier Boxing Champions.

“I want Santiago next,” he said of the Mexican, who won his belt by outpointing Nonito Donaire on July 29. “He says that he doesn’t think anybody can beat him at 118 pounds, but I’m here to prove him wrong.”