FORMER unified world champion Francisco Rodriguez Jr showed his championship pedigree, outlasting Galal Yafai over 12 intense rounds in Birmingham. Rodriguez hurt Yafai early, floored him late and refused to let up, prevailing by scores of 119-108 on the cards of both Kevin Parker and David Bilocerkowec. Chris Tellez had it slightly closer at 118-109.
It was a minor miracle that Yafai made it to a decision and a testament to his extreme toughness. “This was a man [Rodriguez] who would not be denied tonight. The engine was incredible,” assessed Eddie Hearn in the aftermath.
Yafai was buzzed on numerous occasions in the opening round, teetering on jelly legs with concerning regularity. Yafai regained his senses in the second, as the heads clashed and Galal used his forearms and elbows to try and create distance.
Rodriguez’s nose was bleeding in the third, giving Yafai a ray of hope. The Mexican’s body shots were sapping valuable energy from the hometown fighter. Yafai emerged from a clinch sporting a sliced left eye.
Both men were boxing out of the southpaw stance, trying to find any advantages. Rodriguez was also cut midway through round five. Yafai bit down on his gumshield and tried to exchange for respect as Rodriguez sliced away to the body.
A tiring Yafai hit the deck in round seven, but referee Mark Bates said no knockdown, indicating a push. Yafai’s tentacle arms were grabbing anything they could get hold of. The doctor had a quick look at both men’s cuts during round nine.
Rodriguez unleashed another huge barrage at the close of the ninth, snapping Yafai’s head back and forth. The 10th started off just as badly for the Birmingham man who was on the verge of being stopped.
Yafai was shipping more clean leather in the 11th. It was past danger territory, with the corner perhaps considering a towel introduction, such was the heavy punishment.
That continued in the 12th as Yafai’s head bounced liberally from a combination, dropping for a belated count. Rodriguez poured it on but could not quite achieve the stoppage. His cut across the left eye was a bad one upon closer inspection.
Fussy referee Mr Bates put the pressure on Rodriguez from the start, but the Mexican shook it off to prevail, improving his record to 40-6-1 (27 KOs). Yafai loses for the first time, falling to 9-1 (7 KOs).
“We planned to steamroller him tonight, that’s what my team sent me out to do,” said Rodriguez.
“It means a great deal to me. Tonight, I was facing an undefeated fighter, a star truly on the up. I had to work doubly as hard, swimming against the current, away from home. Had he not clinched so much, I’d have knocked him out.
“[Kenshiro] Teraji give me a call, we have a date pending after your fight in July, let’s get it done!”
