A WBC flyweight title clash between Ricardo Sandoval and Galal Yafai is being lined up for early 2026, according to promoter Eddie Hearn. The matchup, ordered by the WBC, is expected to take place in either January or February, pending Sandoval’s full recovery from injury.
Yafai was previously reinstated as the mandatory challenger after it was revealed that his previous conqueror, Francisco Rodriguez Jr., twice failed drug tests. The controversy led to the cancellation of an immediate rematch and opened the door for Yafai’s world title opportunity.
Meanwhile, Sandoval captured the WBC title by defeating Kenshiro Teraji, establishing himself as one of the division’s new elite talents. However, an injury following that bout delayed negotiations for the Yafai fight, forcing the sanctioning body and promoters to push back the timeline.
Hearn confirmed that the delay should benefit both sides. “Sandoval was injured, coming off the Teraji fight, so we allowed time for that,” he said. “We expect the fight to take place in January or February. Galal’s next fight will be for the WBC world title, which is an incredible turn of events after what he went through against Rodriguez.”
The promoter added that while Yafai’s last outing was a punishing twelve-round battle, the additional preparation time should help the British contender reset and recharge. “A fight against Sandoval won’t be easy,” Hearn said, “but it’s one I think he can win.”
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