Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr. Preview June 21st, 2025
Unbeaten interim IBF Flyweight Champion Galal Yafai of England defends his belt for the first time this Saturday, June 21st when he takes on former WBO and IBF World Minimumweight Champion Francisco Rodriguez Jr of Mexico. The 12-rounder from Yafai’s hometown of Birmingham can be seen live in most nations on DAZN. Yafai, a gold-medal flyweight winner at the 2021 Olympics in Japan, won his belt in November when he stopped fellow countryman Sunny Edwards in the sixth round. Rodriguez last saw action in December when he fought to an eight-round no decision with Josue Morales after originally being awarded a unanimous decision. In his previous bout four months earlier he halted Jorge Ignacio Villalobos in just 63 seconds.
Galal vs Rodriguez Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Francisco Rodriguez Jr +275
- Galal Yafai -375
My Pick
The 32-year-old Yafai is a southpaw who climbs through the ropes with a perfect mark of 9-0 with 7 Ko’s and has boxed just 49 rounds since making his pro debut in 2022. He measures 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 68-inch reach and enjoyed a fine amateur career as he captured a silver medal at the 2017 European Championships as well as a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a bronze medal at the 2019 European Games and of course the gold medal at the 2021 (2020) Olympics in Japan and also boxed at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
As a pro, Yafai hasn’t really faced any contenders other than taking a step up in class against Edwards and having no problem dismantling him. Yafai captured the vacant International Flyweight Belt in his pro debut with a fifth-round TKO over Carlos Vado Bautista and has defended it six times against Agustin Gauto, Rocco Santomauro, Tommy Frank, Moises Calleros, Gohan Rodriguez Garcia and Miguel Cartagena. As far as power is concerned, Yafai has plenty of it as his current knockout ratio clocks in at 77.8 per cent and he’s stopped five of his last six opponents.
Rodriguez Jr is also 32 years old climbs and makes the ring walk with a record of 39-6-1 with 27 Ko’s and has boxed 282 rounds since making his pro debut in 2010. He’s got solid power as well as 69.2 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage including his last two. However he’s gone the distance in six of his past nine contests. His first loss came back in 2012 at the hands of Salvador Arias by six-round unanimous decision.
He was stopped by Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez in the seventh round in 2013; dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Donnie Nietes in a shot at the WBO Light Flyweight Title in 2015; lost a 12-round split decision to Moises Fuentes in 2015; was beaten by Kazuto Ioka by a 12-round unanimous decision in 2021 in a shot at the WBO Super Flyweight Belt and dropped a 10-round unanimous decision to Junto Nakatani in 2022. Rodriguez’s lone draw was a 10-round affair with Jomar Fajardo in 2014.
Since turning pro, Rodriguez has also captured the vacant NABF Light Flyweight Title and the vacant, WBC Latino Super Flyweight Crown. However, when stepping up against the world’s elite boxers such as Gonzalez, Nietes, Fuentes, Ioka and Nakatani he’s come up just short but has been stopped just once thanks to his solid chin. Rodriguez stands 5-feet-4-inches with a 65-inch reach which means he’s giving up three inches in reach to Yafai.
Prediction…
Both boxers have fine skills with Yafai having an edge in power and reach. However Rodriguez gets the nod when it comes to pro experience and has certainly taken on the tougher opposition. Yafai should be able to land on Rodriguez when his opponents tries to work his way inside. This is a close call as both men have good chins and even though Yafai is fighting at home, Rodriguez is certainly used to fighting on the road. This could be an all-action affair and I’m leaning towards Yafai due to his power and punching accuracy.
Yafai has the better overall boxing skills and power.
Play: Yafai. -375 @ BetOnline.ag
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Francisco Rodriguez Jr betting • Galal Yafai betting