Galal Yafai’s interim WBC flyweight title fight with Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez is now headed to a March 25 purse bid, after both sides missed the WBC’s negotiation deadline. Yafai is signed to Matchroom, while Rodriguez fights under Eddy Reynoso’s No Boxing, No Life and Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions. Both parties can still reach a deal before the scheduled hearing, but if they fail, the contest goes up for open bidding.
Yafai captured the interim belt by stopping former IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards in six rounds last November in Birmingham, capping a successful three-win 2024 campaign. A 2020 Olympic gold medalist for Great Britain, Yafai is now poised for his first defense against Rodriguez, who has won four straight since a points defeat to Junto Nakatani in 2022. Though “Chihuas” picked up an eight-round victory over Josue Morales last December, that result was recently changed to a no-decision, leaving Rodriguez still positioned as the WBC’s mandatory challenger at 112 pounds.
Their bout comes at a pivotal time for the flyweight division, with full WBC champion Kenshiro Teraji having just unified in a dramatic 12th-round stoppage of Seigo Yuri Akui on March 13. While Teraji could next face the Yafai-Rodriguez victor, he’s hinted at possibly moving up to 115 in the near future. Should that happen, the Yafai-Rodriguez winner would be elevated to full WBC champion status rather than having to chase a showdown with Teraji.
Get to know more about Galal here.
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