Bantamweight WBO Latino champion Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Rodriguez (12-0, 8 KO’s) will be defending his title for the third time, against Mexico’s Alex Rangel (16-4-2, 10 KO’s) in a scheduled 10-round duel, scheduled for Saturday, August 22 at the Tomas Dones Coliseum in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
“Rangel is a good fighter that throws lots of punches, has faced good fighters and I understand that this fight will be a war. I have no doubt about it” said Emmanuel Rodriguez, who continued, “Rangel went the distance with Cesar Seda and lasted nine rounds against Alexis Santiago. In both fights, Rangel looked good in losing effort, so I have to be in excellent condition to keep the belt in Puerto Rico”.
Rodriguez, who is the first Puerto Rican boxer to grab gold at a Youth Olympic Games (Singapore 2010), held last May, defeated former WBA rated #11, Luis Hinojosa. via spectacular KO in the third round
“Rangel is the kind of opponent important and necessary on Rodriguez’s development,” said Juan Orengo, manager of Emmanuel Rodriguez, “We expect Rangel to be in great shape. The fight may go the distance, but nothing is guaranteed because ‘Manny’ has gained a lot of power, and is knocking out his opponents with one punch”.
On October 2014, the undefeated Puerto Rican sensation captured the WBO Latino title by knocking out Miguel ‘No Fear’ Cartagena in the first round. Cartagena was a former two-time United States National Champion, and an 11-time Golden Gloves winner in Philadelphia.
Rodriguez has other notable victories by unanimous decision over world title contender, David Quijano, and former WBC FECARBOX champion, Felix Perez.