Francisco Rodriguez Jr. stormed into Birmingham’s BP Pulse LIVE on Saturday night and ripped the WBC interim flyweight title from Galal Yafai, turning what many expected to be a showcase into a one-sided mauling. The Mexican veteran launched 575 scoring blows which is an all-time flyweight compuBox record, and even floored Yafai in the twelfth, sealing unanimous cards that barely needed reading.
From the opening bell Rodriguez fought like a man with a plane to catch, never allowing the slick Olympic gold medallist a moment to set. By the midway mark both men had topped a thousand combined punches, yet only one seemed comfortable in the chaos. Yafai tried matching fire with fire, but the exchanges simply magnified the visitor’s engine.
Ringside promoter Eddie Hearn admitted his man chose the wrong fight: “You can’t stand and trade with Rodriguez. He’s world-class, but not elite - yet he refused to be denied.” Many felt trainer Rob McCracken should have pulled Yafai early; McCracken had towel in hand during the final minute, but Yafai clung and clinched his way to the bell, pride outweighing preservation.
Where Yafai goes after such a drubbing is uncertain, but Rodríguez’s options now look wide-open. A shot at full champion Fernando “Puma” Martínez suddenly feels earned, and with this kind of volume he’ll fancy anyone willing to meet him center-ring. Saturday proved one thing beyond doubt: in the flyweight furnace, relentless beats refined every time.
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