This weekend, international boxing focuses its attention on Birmingham, England, where the undefeated Galal Yafai takes on Mexican veteran Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez Jr. in a bout that promises to be as technical as it is exciting. Although it is not a unification of world titles, the World Boxing Council (WBC) interim belt will be at stake, which makes this fight a direct prelude to a future fight for the absolute championship against Kenshiro Teraji.
Both fighters have clear objectives. Yafai, after winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics and building an impeccable professional start, is looking to consolidate his position among the best in the flyweight division. Rodriguez Jr., on the other hand, brings the experience of 46 fights, a past as a world champion and the motivation to prove that he can still compete at the highest level.
Fighter records and history
Galal Yafai (9-0, 7 KO) is considered one of the great promises of British boxing. Since his transition from amateur to professional, he has shown constant evolution and respectable punching power. His most recent victory was a resounding knockout against Sunny Edwards, who decided to retire after the defeat. At 32 years of age, Yafai fights as a southpaw and combines speed, pressure and technique in each performance.
Francisco Rodriguez Jr. (39-6-1, 27 KOs) arrives with an extensive professional career, having faced boxing legends such as Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, Donnie Nietes, Junto Nakatani and Kazuto Ioka. Also 32 years old, the Mexican is characterized by his resilience, international experience and aggressive orthodox style. His track record backs him up as a serious opponent for any elite contender.
Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr fight date:
The fight between Galal Yafai and Francisco Rodriguez Jr. will take place on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at BP Pulse LIVE (formerly Resorts World Arena) in Birmingham, United Kingdom. For fans in the United States, the main card will begin at 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT, while the main event is scheduled to start around 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT.
Where to watch the fight: Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr:
The entire evening will be broadcast live on DAZN, at no additional cost to subscribers. The platform will offer full coverage of the card from 2:00 PM ET, with the advantage that it will be available in more than 200 countries. No pay-per-view (PPV) is required, only an active DAZN subscription.
With an interim title on the line and a future world championship fight on the horizon, the clash between Galal Yafai and Francisco Rodriguez Jr. promises to be one of the most important of the year in the flyweight division.
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