By Francisco Salazar

Bantamweight contender Melvin Lopez knocked out Lucas Rafael Baez in the opening round last Friday night at the Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort in Miami, Florida.

With the victory, Lopez improves to 21-0, 12 knockouts.

Lopez weighed 120.2 pounds at the previous day’s weigh-in after Baez weighed in at 125.8 pounds.

The 21-year-old Lopez, who is originally from Nicaragua and now resides in Miami, Florida, landed a lead left hand to the stomach of Baez, who took a knee next to the ropes. Referee Samuel Burgos counted Baez out at 51 seconds.

Lopez is ranked No. 4 by the WBA.

Baez, who resides in Catamarca, Argentina, drops to 35-19-5, 19 KOs and has now lost three of his last four bouts.

Fringe welterweight contender Harold Calderon (21-0, 14 KOs), who also resides in Miami, stopped Argentina’s Vicente Perez (13-8-1, 11 KOs) at 1:46 of the opening round. Calderon has now stopped five of his last six opponents.

Junior featherweight Alexei Collado defeated Ramon Elizer Esperanza (22-18-1, 11 KOs) of Argentina by disqualification at 1:35 of the fourth round. Collado, a Miami resident, improves to 24-2, 21 KOs and has now won his last five bouts.

In lightweight action, Josec Ruiz (20-2-3, 14 KOs) of Honduras stopped former world title challenger and gatekeeper Daulis Prescott (32-13, 24 KOs) of Colombia at 1:54 of the fifth round. Ruiz is now unbeaten in his last 15 bouts, while Prescott has now los 10 of his last 11 bouts.

Fringe welterweight contender Armando Alvarez defeated Argentina’s Gabriel Punalef Calfin (24-9-5, 9 KOs) by unanimous decision. Scores were 80-72, 80-72, and 80-71 for Alvarez, who improves to 20-2, 12 KOs.

The fight card was promoted by M&R Promotions.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing