Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr Predictions: Yafai gets a solid test in Rodriguez

Galal Yafai puts his WBC interim flyweight title on the line against Francisco Rodriguez Jr. this Saturday, June 21 at the BP Pulse Arena in Birmingham. The bout will be broadcast live on DAZN, with a stacked card featuring Conah Walker vs Liam Taylor as well as an outing for Peter McGrail.

Here are my Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr. predictions ahead of this flyweight fight.

Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr Odds

Yafai is 3/10 to take the hometown win. Veteran Rodriguez is 5/2 while the draw is 16/1.

Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr Fight Preview

“And for my next trick”, as the showbiz saying goes. Yafai certainly looked like a magician as he made Sunny Edwards disappear in six rounds last November. While ‘Showtime’ has since retired from the prize ring, his conqueror now looks to build on a career-best night.

It is a different assignment for Yafai this time. While the 32-year-old was the underdog for the first time as a professional against the decorated Edwards, he is back to being a fairly heavy favourite. Instead of facing a man who had been IBF flyweight champion 11 months prior, the Birmingham boxer takes on a fighter who last held a world title 11 years ago.

That statistic gives the impression that Rodriguez is washed-up, which is actually unfair. In Mexico they tend to start their fighters young in the pros, rather than guide them through a long amateur schooling. This is evident in the fact Rodriguez is still only 32 (some sources have him at 31, but we have cited BoxRec, the widely-used industry record keeper, on this occasion). 

Rodriguez’s only two losses this decade have come at the hands of Japanese pair Kazuto Ioka and Junto Nakatani, both on away soil. The former held the WBO title for six years and has only ever lost to Fernando Martinez. The latter is an unbeaten phenom who many are tipping to become the next Naoya Inoue, perhaps even by virtue of beating 'The Monster' himself. 

Rodriguez is a step-down for Edwards in terms of name value and promotional prestige. But, given Edwards’ surprising surrender, the Mexican might actually end up being a tougher opponent. With the alphabet bodies being as pliable as they are, plenty of unworthy boxers sneak into one set of ratings. But Rodriguez is ninth with The Ring and 10th with BoxRec, who offer a far more balanced and independent view of the boxing landscape.

That will not bother Yafai though. In only his ninth paid fight, he tore apart one of British boxing’s unsung icons. Squared circle scholars will debate whether Edwards’ loss to Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez two fights earlier sapped his soul. But Sunny looked like his old self in his victory over former champion Adrian Curiel, which was sandwiched between the ‘Bam’ and Yafai losses.

Yafai is a thoroughly modern magician. Southpaw stance, close-magic shoulder rolls on offence and defence, the procession of a hunter and the precision of a killer. With seven knockouts in nine wins against strong opponents, this is a guy who will walk you down and make you miss before taking you out.

Rodriguez will not be afraid. A former WBO and IBF unified strawweight king, he has also challenged for belts at light flyweight and super flyweight. Only the mighty Roman Gonzalez has ever stopped the Mexican, in seven rounds way back in 2013. 

Since then Rodriguez has beaten quality men. In total, the Mexican has defeated six world champions. Of the half-dozen losses on Rodriguez’s record, five came against titlists. ‘Chihuas’ has proven time and again that elite level is where he belongs.

Yafai set his stall out as part of that same exclusive club last time out. The proud Brummie comes to the ring with the interim version of the WBC title. But Yafai will have his eye on the full version, currently around the waist of Kenshiro Teraji. The Japanese star fights Ricardo Sandoval in Yokohama next month.

The winner of Teraji-Sandoval better watch their back. Because whether it is an Olympic champion who is acing the pro ranks or a seasoned warrior with the accolades to match, the WBC champion has a big challenge ahead.

Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr Full Card

Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr

Peter McGrail vs Ionut Baluta

Conah Walker vs Liam Taylor

Ibraheem Sulaimaan vs Brian Phillips

Giorgio Visioli vs Elias Federico Duguet

Hamza Uddin vs Joshua Vallejo

Aaron Bowen vs Alvaro Godoy

Pat Brown vs Ivan Duka

Tiah Mai Ayton vs Bec Connolly

Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr Prediction

This is a good fight for both I feel. Yafai gets a seasoned campaigner with plenty left to give as he pursues world titles. Rodriguez gets a fast-track crack back to a championship bout. It is win-win.

But win-wins never truly exist in boxing, where a draw feels like a loss for both fighters. If Yafai slips up here, at 32 that is his world title ambitions done and dusted. Rodriguez is the same age but has spent his life in the professional ring. The Mexican is a veteran now and losing to Yafai would relegate him to the dreaded gatekeeper level.

Sadly for Rodriguez, who has  been great value over the years, I think that is where he is heading. Yafai looks imperious at the moment. So much so that I am backing him to become only the second man to stop the Mexican at 3/1. The first was Roman Gonzalez, who is a lock for the Hall of Fame. Repeating the trick could keep Yafai on a path that sees him enshrined in Canastota one day too.

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