Unbeaten world-ranked bantamweight Melvin “Melo” Lopez (16-0, 10 KOs) of Nicaragua decisioned Jose Cardenas (16-3, 13 KOs) of Mexico to win the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) NABA title on Friday night at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Cardenas gave Lopez his toughest test as a professional. He never hurt Lopez but showed him a lot of different angles with his movement. Lopez was the aggressor throughout the bout and showed he could go ten strong rounds applying pressure and cutting off the distance. The official scores were 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94 all for Lopez.

The 20-year-old Lopez won his second regional title in the bantamweight division after claiming the World Boxing Council (WBC) youth title back in April.

Lopez is under the management of WRAM Boxing (William Ramirez) who says that Lopez could possibly make his Asian debut in the Philippines within the next month or so with an opponent to be announced.

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