After having a three-fight stoppage streak ended by Fabian Andres Maidana on May 4, highly-ranked welterweight contender Rohan Polanco is staying busy this weekend.

He faces Quinton Randall (15-2-1, 8 KOs) in his fourth scheduled ten-round contest, again defending the WBO Inter-Continental title he won in February, with eyes on making a statement.

The 26-year-old dropped Argentina's Maidana (24-4, 18 KOs) in the final round of a frustrating affair, with 100-89 scorecards across the board reinforcing his dominance.

Although he threatened plenty and got the crowd stirring with anticipation on the Naoya Inoue-Ramon Cardenas undercard, El Rayo was unable to sustain the power-punching groove many now expect from a rising contender being steadily pushed.

Harnessing his exciting capabilities is a blessing and a curse, as Polanco (16-0, 10 KOs) reviewed the performance critically after failing to finish his evening's work inside the distance.

It's easy to forget Maidana had never been stopped and was twelve months removed from a competitive 12-round defeat by Mario Barrios for the WBC interim title.

"He did good but always looks to do better," Polanco's head trainer Hector Bermudez told The Ring.

"I don't know why he was so disappointed that he couldn't get the knockout, but the guy didn't engage enough for those opportunities to open, was being negative and there wasn't much more he could do.

On how that dynamic changes as time wears on, Bermudez was optimistic these experiences will season him for the world's elite.

"It'll be different as the opposition will want to win, tests start toughening up from now and he'll have to fight those with more on the line, trying their best to protect their record... which comes with its own challenges."

Now, he's facing someone the WBO titleholder Brian Norman Jr went ten rounds with less than two full years ago, logging a pair of 99-91 scorecards and a 97-93 nod on a card topped by Shakur Stevenson-Edwin de Los Santos in November 2023.

Six months later, the Georgia native's tenth-round stoppage win over Giovani Santillan saw him earn interim championship status and three months afterwards, was also elevated like Barrios.

Time flies and while Bermudez isn't assuming Polanco will skip the proverbial title queue with another stoppage, knows his charge wants to deliver another highlight reel moment here. Norman (28-0, 22 KOs, 2 NC) is very much the hunted man atop the division and they aren't shying away from that fact.

"He has to look impressive every time out. We've got to do something Norman didn't do, so that's the rough part because if he's there to jab and move, it's difficult as Polanco has to be careful when he cuts off the ring, not to run into shots or be careless. That's what makes this fight more interesting.

The Ring's No. 6-rated Polanco, who sits at No. 7 with the WBO and No. 11 with the WBC, is one of few contenders staying active at a time where the 147-pound division remains in flux after Terence Crawford and more recently Jaron Ennis have since departed.

Lewis Crocker-Paddy Donovan II has this week been confirmed for the vacant IBF title at Windsor Park on September 13, while Norman makes his third title defence against incoming two-division champion Devin Haney two months later.

Norman will undoubtedly want to make steps towards unifying the division, assuming another career-best challenge is passed in the Saudi capital.

Barrios barely eked out a 12-round majority draw to retain his title against returning Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao last weekend and WBA titlist Rolando Romero has options aplenty to consider for his next fight, including a Ryan Garcia rematch mooted for December.

Bermudez wonders aloud about Top Rank's uncertain broadcasting future, aware Polanco will feature on their last telecast of an eight-year partnership with ESPN.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum has this week confirmed negotiations are ongoing surrounding their next move, however the lack of clarity around a solidified TV deal is leaving many uncertain about their plans and how that impacts their fighters' schedule.

Polanco can't concern himself with factors outside his control, knowing the promotion backing him are always searching for a new breakthrough star to shine their spotlight on. Winning and doing so in style is his currency.