Galal Yafai dropped his interim WBC flyweight title in an upset wide decision loss to Francisco Rodriguez Jr at bp pulse LIVE Arena on Saturday.
2020 Olympic Gold medallist Yafai (9-1, 7 KOs) defeated Sunny Edwards in his most recent contest, halting the former world champion in six rounds. Rodriguez (40-6-1, 27 KOs) fought three times in 2024, the last an eight round points win against Josue Morales that was changed to a no contest last December.
The opening round saw Yafai rocked by an accumulation of punches, and he struggled to impose himself on the Mexican, who was getting the better of the exchanges, and showing his power up close.
The home favourite had a solid fourth round where he landed two eye-catching left hands, but they made little damage on the 32-year-old visitor, although Yafai again came on strong a round later where they both swapped leather in an absorbing exchange.
Rodriguez hurt the 32-year-old with a combination in round seven, and he was relentless in his approach, with the doctor inspecting damage to Yafai’s face in the ninth.
Yafai was hurt again in the same round by some clubbing blows, and he was fading fast, and was dropped in the final frame.
There was an argument for the fight to be stopped with Yafai taking a beating, but he bravely made it to the bell to hear about academic result.
Rodriguez was declared the winner by two scores of 118-108, and a third at 118-109 and closed in on a shot at unified WBC and WBA titlist, Kenshiro Teraji.
Walker blasts out Taylor
Conah Walker defended his British welterweight for the first time against Liam Taylor (28-3-1, 14 KOs), as he scored a seventh-round knockout in their meeting.
Walker (16-3-1, 7 KOs) connected with a left hook that concluded the contest.
🐺🇬🇧 @conah_walker doing @conah_walker things 👑
The British Welterweight Title retained in Round 7!#WalkerTaylor #YafaiRodriguez pic.twitter.com/CBTPaYNqdI
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) June 21, 2025
McGrail battles past Baluta
Peter McGrail (12-1, 6 KOs) was tested as expected by Ionut Baluta (17-6-1, 3 KOs) at super bantamweight, and he came through by majority decision. Two scores of 97-93 trumped a third card at 95-95.
Remaining Undercard
In eight-round action, super featherweight prospect Ibraheem Sulaimaan (8-0, 4 KOs) took a points win against Brian Phillips (12-5, 3 KOs), and Giorgio Visioli (8-0, 6 KOs) was a points winner in his super featherweight clash against Elias Federico Duguet (7-2-1, 2 KOs).
Flyweight novice Hamza Uddin (5-0, 2 KOs) took a seventh-round stoppage win against Leandro Jose Blanc (8-3, 3 KOs), and Coventry middleweight Aaron Bowen (6-0, 4 KOs) stopped Romania’s Mykola Vovk (15-8, 9 KOs) in the fourth round of their clash.
REMEMBER THE NAME… TIAH-MAI AYTON!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/YtCfqlw74Q
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) June 21, 2025
In six round action, Pat Brown (2-0, 2 KOs) took two rounds to dispatch Ivan Duka (5-6, 3 KOs) at cruiserweight, and Tiah Mai Ayton (1-0, 1 KO) made a debut with a third-round stoppage win against Sara Orszagi (2-8) at super bantamweight.
