BIRMINGHAM, England — Galal Yafai and Francisco Rodriguez both promised fireworks ahead of their WBC interim flyweight title fight at Birmingham’s BP pulse LIVE.
They met for the first time at Thursday’s press conference, ahead of their contest on Saturday that will determine the mandatory challenger for the WBC title held by Kenshiro Teraji.
Yafai is headlining in his home city for the second time, after stopping Sunny Edwards in November in six rounds. Rodriguez, 32 years old and a former unified strawweight champion, has travelled from Mexico and has previously fought some of the division’s best in Junto Nakatani and Kazuti Ioka – both, like Teraji, from Japan.
“In my opinion [Rodriguez] beat Ioka; went the distance with Nakatani,” said Eddie Hearn, the promoter of Saturday’s match-up. “This fight will be an absolute war. A former unified world champion – he’s been in fantastic fights.”
“I’ve come really prepared for this fight — I’m not coming so far to lose,” Rodriguez said.
Yafai’s style proved the deciding factor in his past contest against Edwards — he overwhelmed the former flyweight champion until the stoppage. Hearn regardless commented, while introducing Yafai at the top table on Thursday, that he had beaten Edwards when Edwards was past his best.
“Why was he coming to the end of his career – he’s 28?” Yafai snapped back. “I won Olympic gold at 28; I was in my prime.”
“I fought The Ring number-one in Sunny, WBC number one in Rodriguez and [will fight] the pound-for-pound champion, WBC and WBA champion, probably have to go to Japan to fight Teraji. I’ve not had it easy.”
Both fighters favor coming forwards and letting their hands go. They recognize it is unlikely to be a dull affair on Saturday night.
“He comes forward, I come forward, should make a good fight for the fans — not so much for me and him,” Yafai said.
“Galal Yafai throws a lot of shots, but I equally throw the same,” said Rodriguez. “He’s never seen someone like me who throws the shots with power.”