The crowd in Birmingham witnessed history as Francisco “Chihuas” Rodríguez Interim WBC Champion became reality. Rodríguez (40‑6‑1) outpointed British Olympian Galal Yafai (9‑1) with an impressive performance, earning a unanimous decision and knocking Yafai down in the final round.
Francisco “Chihuas” Rodríguez Interim WBC Champion
From the opening bell, Rodríguez pushed the pace. His aggressive style overwhelmed Yafai, who tried to stay composed but struggled under the pressure. Both fighters suffered cuts during the fight due to exchanges and accidental clashes of heads, adding more drama to the contest.
The defining moment came in the 12th round when Rodríguez landed a clean shot that sent Yafai to the canvas. The Mexican fighter kept the momentum going, ensuring the judges had no doubts. The final scorecards read 119‑108, 119‑108, and 118‑109, confirming Rodríguez as the clear winner.
This win marks a new chapter for Rodríguez, who previously held unified world titles at minimumweight back in 2014. At 32 years old, he now eyes the full WBC Flyweight title, possibly facing Japan’s Kenshiro Teraji, the current division champion.
After the fight, Rodríguez stated, “I’m ready for the next step. I want to challenge for the full WBC title and make Mexico proud.”
Rodríguez’s victory adds to Mexico’s long legacy of boxing greatness and injects excitement into the flyweight division. His next fight could bring even more fireworks as he pursues championship glory.
Send story tips here. Follow Gabe Navarro on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky to stay current with the latest Fajador articles and stories.
