“I’m [going to] prove [that] I’m the best fighter in the division. This is [going to] send a message to all the other champions that I’m here to stay,” he told Showtime’s Brian Custer on Thursday.
“Starting in the fourth round, I should be able to figure out what he’s got in store for me. Then, I feel like I can stop him between the fourth and seventh rounds.”
Rodriguez may be confident in his ability to pull out the win on Saturday, but Lopez isn’t letting the doubters stop him from thinking he can win the fight and become the only active fighter from Nicaragua to hold a world title.
“Winning would bring me happiness and pride for my country, and it would prove to me that all my hard work ever since I was little, paid off,” Lopez told Custer.
“I’m gonna give it my all for the world title. We both want it badly. For everyone watching on Saturday night, I’m gonna do everything I can to bring the title home.”
