Galal Yafai Set For WBC Interim Flyweight Title Victory Over Francisco Rodriguez Jr.

England’s undefeated interim International Boxing Federation Flyweight titleholder Galal Yafai is set to make the first defense of his belt this Saturday, June 21. He’ll face off against Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr., a former unified champion at minimumweight, having held both the World Boxing Organization and IBF titles. The 12-round bout will take place in Yafai’s hometown of Birmingham. It will be broadcast live on DAZN in many countries around the world.

What? WBC Interim Flyweight Title Fight: Galal Yafai v Francisco Rodriguez Jr
Where? BP Pulse Live Arena, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
When? Saturday, June 21, 2025

Below are the odds for the bout from three of the best sports betting sites.

Flyweight Boxing
Galal Yafai	-410	-375	-375
Francisco Rodriguez	+280	+275	+275

Make sure to check out the best boxing betting online apps 2025.

Galal Yafai

Galal Yafai, the 2021 Olympic Boxing flyweight gold medalist, claimed the interim IBF Flyweight crown last November by halting fellow Brit Sunny Edwards in the sixth round. Now 32, the undefeated southpaw brings a spotless record of 9-0 with 7 knockouts into Saturday’s bout. He's logged just 49 professional rounds since turning pro in 2022.

Standing 5-foot-4 with a 68-inch reach, Yafai boasts an impressive amateur résumé. Alongside his Olympic triumph, he earned silver at the 2017 European Championships, gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and bronze at the 2019 European Games. He also competed at the 2016 Olympics in Rio before striking gold in Tokyo five years later.

Since making a dominant start to his pro career with a fifth-round TKO over Carlos Vado Bautista to claim the vacant International Flyweight title, Yafai has successfully defended that belt six times. His opponents have included Agustin Gauto, Rocco Santomauro, Tommy Frank, Moises Calleros, Gohan Rodriguez Garcia, and Miguel Cartagena. Though Edwards marked his first real test against a notable name, Yafai passed with flying colors. With a knockout rate nearing 78%, and stoppages in five of his last six fights, Yafai has proven he carries serious finishing power in the flyweight ranks.

Francisco Rodriguez Jr

Francisco Rodriguez Jr. returns to the ring this weekend following an unusual outcome in his last bout in December. A unanimous decision win over Josue Morales was later changed to a no decision after eight rounds. Prior to that, the Mexican veteran made quick work of Jorge Ignacio Villalobos, earning a first-round stoppage just 63 seconds into their clash.

Also 32 years old, Rodriguez brings a wealth of experience with a professional record of 39-6-1, including 27 knockouts, and has tallied 282 rounds since debuting in 2010. Known for his aggressive style and respectable punching power, 69.2% of his victories have come via stoppage—though he has gone the distance in six of his last nine outings. His first professional defeat came in 2012 by unanimous decision over six rounds against Salvador Arias.

Rodriguez has shared the ring with some of the best in the lower weight classes. He was stopped in seven rounds by Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez in 2013, fell short in a WBO Light Flyweight title challenge against Donnie Nietes in 2015 via unanimous decision, and suffered narrow losses to Moises Fuentes and Kazuto Ioka—both in 12-round decisions. His most recent high-profile loss came in 2022 against Junto Nakatani over 10 rounds. His lone career draw occurred in 2014 against Jomar Fajardo.

Despite coming up short against top-tier competition, Rodriguez has captured notable regional honors, including the NABF Light Flyweight and WBC Latino Super Flyweight titles. Durable and battle-tested, he’s only been stopped once in his career—a testament to his solid chin. Physically, he stands at 5-foot-4 with a 65-inch reach, meaning he’ll be conceding a three-inch reach advantage to Yafai in Saturday’s showdown.

Prediction and Betting Pick

Both fighters bring strong skill sets to the table, but Yafai holds clear advantages in both reach and punching power. On the flip side, Rodriguez has the edge in professional experience. He has faced far more seasoned and accomplished opponents throughout his lengthy career.

Yafai’s sharper timing and power could prove crucial, especially if Rodriguez looks to close the distance and engage on the inside. While Rodriguez has shown he can handle tough environments and is no stranger to fighting away from home, Yafai’s ability to maintain range and land clean, accurate shots might be the difference-maker.

With both possessing reliable chins, this matchup has the makings of a high-tempo, crowd-pleasing contest. That said, Yafai’s precision and heavier hands make him the more likely man to take control in the key moments. In what could be a tightly contested battle, the edge leans slightly in favor of the hometown fighter.

Galal Yafai By Decision or Technical Decision G.Yafai vs. Francisco Rodriguez

-130

Bovada

Below are the best choices for your boxing bets. You can read our best sportsbook reviews 2025 to help determine the best option for you.