Flyweight world contender McWilliams Arroyo will fight in his hometown, Fajardo, for the first time in four years when he faces Robert Kanalas on Saturday, August 22, at the Tomas Dones Coliseum in a show headlined by the title defense of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Latino bantamweight champion Emmanuel “Manny” Rodriguez against Alex Rangel.
McWilliams Arroyo (16-2, 14 KOs), whose twin-brother McJoe won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) 115 pounds title last month, is ranked #4 by the IBF and #6 by the WBO in the flyweights. His fight against Kanalas (9-3, 7 KOs) is scheduled to eight rounds in the flyweight division.
“We were in talks with the people of Fresh Boxing Promotions and we agreed to McWilliams fight on August 22 in his hometown, which will keep active for what we are negotiating for him (Arroyo),” said Peter Rivera, vice president of PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP), McWilliams’ promoter.
The latest bout of McWilliams Arroyo in Fajardo was on July 1, 2011 when he knocked out Mexican veteran Lorenzo Trejo in two rounds. Earlier, in his second pro fight, on April 17, 2010, he defeated by Dominican Francisco Rosario by a three rounds TKO. McWilliams, a Puerto Rican Olympian in 2008 and gold medalist of the 2009 World Amateur Championships, the 2007 Pan American Games and the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games, is coming off a knockout victory last April 11 over Victor Ruiz.
Also on the August 22 show, unbeaten Jose “Chino” Lopez (4-0, 3 KOs) will fight against an opponent to be determined in a lightweight bout scheduled to four rounds. Lopez is coming off a third round victory over Rey Rivera last April 11, 2015.
In the main event of the evening world ranked bantamweight, Manny Rodriguez (12-0, 8 KOs), will defend his WBO Latino bantamweight belt against Mexican Alex Rangel (16-4-2, 10 KOs).