Latest news with #FranciscoRodriguezJr
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
I wish I was a 6ft 4in heavyweight
Boxing is crowded with contenders bellowing about their greatness long before proving it, but Galal Yafai defies this bravado culture."People on the outside assume boxers are always so confident. Just because I won Olympic gold, they think I must be full of myself – but that's not true at all," Yafai tells BBC Sport."There are times I think 'I can't do this' or 'I might lose that fight'."Yafai believes facing those negative thoughts head-on can neutralise their it is this level-headed approach that may have helped the 32-year-old reach the pinnacle of amateur boxing with that Olympic title and now puts him on the brink of global honours as a years ago, the Birmingham native was juggling boxing training with working shifts at a Solihull car Saturday, he returns home to defend his WBC interim title at the BP Pulse Live Arena against Mexican Francisco Rodriguez could lead to a unification bout with WBA and WBC titlist Kenshiro Teraji and Yafai would not hesitate in travelling to the champion's home turf."I've got a good connection with Japan - I won Olympic gold in Tokyo," he says."Going back there to fight a world champion for a unified title would be incredible. I'd absolutely be up for it." The flyweight working hard for recognition Yafai's dominant win over former world champion Sunny Edwards in November boosted his profile and strengthened his case to become Britain's latest global boxing star."After what I did against Sunny, I've got a few more people watching me," he says. "Not just beating him - but how I beat him.""It wasn't a hard fight, six rounds which were comfortable for me. I had a little holiday a week or so later and was then back in the gym."Yet Yafai is under no illusions about where he sits in boxing's hierarchy of public rarely top the billing on fight nights or dominate headlines and are often overshadowed by the sport's bigger men."We don't get the plaudits. I wish I was 6ft 4in and a heavyweight," Yafai adds with a wry smile."But I'm fine having to do double the work of middleweights and heavyweights to get the recognition." Small frame, big ambitions – Yafai targets world glory Yafai is expected to overcome Rodriguez Jr, a former strawweight world champion with 39 wins, six losses and one previous contest was changed from a points win to a no-contest. BBC Sport contacted the Texas boxing commission for clarity, while Yafai says he is also unsure of the reasons."You get those weird stories in boxing," Yafai says. "But he's a tough, proven fighter and all I can do is focus on what I have do. I'm sure that'll be enough on the night."Beyond Rodriguez, a showdown with Teraji awaits. There is perhaps an even bolder move - stepping up to challenge Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez, the American two-weight world champion who stopped Edwards in 2023."Bam's a great fighter and I'm not deluded, I'd probably do myself an injustice going up to face a champion like him," Yafai says."But I was ringside when he stopped Sunny and I saw enough to know how I could beat him."For now, though, the target remains clear."First, I must win on Saturday," Yafai says. "And then can I go on and win a world title."When I retire from boxing, I want to sit back and say I was Olympic champion and world champion. That's the legacy I'm chasing."
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr: Start time, live stream, TV channel, tickets and full card for huge title fight
OLYMPIC gold medalist Galal Yafai and Francisco Rodriguez Jr have been drafted in to headline a huge Birmingham bill - and the WBC interim World Flyweight title is on the line! Shabaz Masoud's bout against Peter McGrail was the initial main event before Masoud withdrew due to a training injury. 1 Meaning that even more eyes will be on champ Yafai to see whether he can extend his impressive 9-0 record. The Englishman's last dance ended with him blowing away Sunny Edwards in six rounds who immediately announced his retirement after the November 2024 fight. And Yafai has been tipped to retain his crown against Rodriguez Jr, particularly with his strong knockout record of seven in nine encounters. However, his Mexican opponent Rodriguez Jr has a staggering 45 fights under his belt, so he knows a thing or two about navigating around the ring. When is Yafai vs Rodriguez Jr? Gala Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr will take place on Saturday, June 21. The ring-walks are scheduled for approximately 10:15pm BST with the first bell expected to go off 15 minutes later at 10:30pm BST. Coverage of the main card should get underway from 7pm BST. BP Pulse LIVE in Birmingham is the chosen venue for this huge event and it can host approximately 15,685 spectators. What TV channel is Yafai vs Rodriguez Jr on and can it be live streamed? Galal Yafai vs Francsico Rodriguez Jr will be broadcast LIVE on DAZN. The whole fight card will stream live on DAZN in over 200 countries across the globe via a DAZN subscription. If you are not currently a DAZN member, then monthly and annual subscription options are available to watch over 185 fights a year across boxing, bare knuckle boxing, MMA and kickboxing. An Annual Super Saver subscription is a one-off payment of £119.99 / $224.99 for 12-months access (£14.99 / $19.99 per month if paying in monthly instalments). A Monthly Flexible pass, which can be cancelled at any time, is £24.99 / $29.99 per month. Yafai vs Rodriguez Jr FULL card What has been said? Galal Yafai has had to battle his way to the top, and he has his eyes set on a huge world title fight. The WBC champ said 'It's been a long journey to just get here. 'It's not finished yet, not even close.'
