Latest news with #FranciscoRodriguez
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Galal Yafai opponent Francisco Rodriguez fails drug test after recent win
Matchroom Boxing has announced that Mexican flyweight Francisco Rodriguez failed a drug test following his fight with Galal Yafai last month. Rodriguez beat the British Olympic gold medallist via unanimous decision to win the WBC interim title in Birmingham, knocking his opponent down in the final round. However, it has now been revealed that he returned an 'adverse analytical finding' after the bout. A Matchroom statement on Wednesday morning read: 'Today, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association informed Matchroom, the World Boxing Council and the British Boxing Board of Control that Francisco Rodriguez has returned an adverse analytical finding as part of a post-fight night anti-doping test following his bout with Galal Yafai on June 21st 2025. The matter will be handled by the BBBoC and WBC.' Yafai's loss to Rodriguez was the first of his professional career after he left the amateur ranks following his victory at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. He picked up the WBC Interim belt by beating fellow Brit Sunny Edwards last November with a sixth-round stoppage win. The 32-year-old Brit was on the brink of a full world title shot prior to his loss to Rodriguez. It now remains to be seen whether the result of their fight is overturned following the Mexican's positive test. Rodriguez was previously a unified mini-flyweight world champion in 2014, and has since stepped up in weight to challenge for more world titles. He was beaten by pound-for-pound star Junto Nakatani in 2022, but appeared to have put himself back in the title mix by beating Yafai. The result of that contest could now be in doubt in the wake of his failed drug test.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rodriguez returns 'adverse finding' after Yafai fight
Francisco Rodriguez Jr faces an anti-doping investigation after his shock win over British flyweight Galal Yafai, says Matchroom promoters have been told the Mexican returned an adverse analytical finding following his points victory in Birmingham last 31, dropped the Olympic gold medallist in the final round and was a clear winner with scores of 119-108, 119-108 and was Yafai's first professional defeat as he surrendered his WBC interim title, but the result is now in question. Matchroom Boxing said in a statement: "Today the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association informed Matchroom, the World Boxing Council and the British Boxing Board of Control that Francisco Rodriguez has returned an adverse analytical finding as part of a post-fight night anti-doping test following his bout with Galal Yafai on June 21, 2025."The matter will be handled by the BBBofC and the WBC."The loss was Yafai's first in 10 pro fights, while Rodriguez has 39 pro wins and six losses, with one draw and a no contest.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Briton Yafai stunned by Rodriguez in first pro loss
Olympic gold medallist Galal Yafai loses for the first time as a professional [Getty Images] Galal Yafai's world title ambitions suffered a major setback as the British flyweight was dropped in the final round in a shock points loss to Francisco Rodriguez Jr in Birmingham. Fighting in his home city, the 32-year-old Olympic gold medallist was rocked early and struggled to handle the relentless pressure and punch volume from the Mexican in a high-tempo contest. Advertisement Yafai had moments of success and showed resilience, but was repeatedly hurt, notably in the seventh and ninth, before hitting the canvas in the twelfth. Although he beat the count, he was clinging on until the end and there was no dispute over the result with scores of 119-108, 119-108 and 118-109. Yafai is defeated for the first time in 10 professional bouts and loses his WBC interim title. Once tipped for a rapid ascent to full world honours, the Tokyo 2020 champion now faces a significant rebuilding job. "[Rodriguez] was relentless tonight. Yafai couldn't have got into a worse start but I'm so proud of him," Yafai's promoter, Eddie Hearn, said. Fast start from Rodriguez sets the tone Rodriguez Jr is a former unified strawweight world champion and wins his 40th bout in 47 fights [Getty Images] Rodriguez burst out of the blocks, rattling the champion early and buckling Yafai's legs with a sharp left uppercut. Yafai struggled to fully recover as Rodriguez's quick hands continued to find the mark through the early stages. Advertisement Yafai rallied in the fourth, landing clean with his backhand, but was hampered by blood pouring from a cut above his left eye. Rodriguez also suffered a cut later in the fight. The Birmingham fighter – who cruised past Sunny Edwards in November – looked second-best throughout, his body language offering little encouragement to the home crowd. He frequently dabbed at the eye and found it difficult to match Rodriguez's pace. Rodriguez had his fired-up corner roaring in the seventh when Yafai was floored, although it was ruled a slip. The damage, however, had already been done earlier in the round, with the 31-year-old away fighter landing a flurry of punches. A crisp straight right and uppercut connected in the eighth, with Yafai showing heart and toughness to stay in the fight. Both men were inspected by doctors before the ninth due to cuts, but it was Rodriguez who continued to dominate, hurting Yafai again as blood stained the referee's shirt. Advertisement By the championship rounds, Yafai looked increasingly resigned to his fate. A clean left-right combination dropped him in the 12th. He rose with a wry, deflated smile before moments later leaving the ring without giving a post-fight interview. A world title shot against Japan's unified champion Kenshiro Teraji had seemed within touching distance but instead Yafai's dream of becoming an Olympic and world champion is paused for now. "He failed on the hurdle to elite level and that's sometimes what happens. He'd only had nine fights," Hearn added. 'The new Katie Taylor' stars on debut Tiah Mai Ayton competed in kickboxing and Muay Thai before transitioning to boxing [Getty Images] Earlier, Britain's Tiah Mai Ayton announced herself to the professional ranks in style by stopping Hungary's Sara Orszagi in a ferocious debut. Advertisement Dubbed "the next Katie Taylor" by Hearn, the 18-year-old super-bantamweight rocked Orszagi with crisp right hands from the opening bell. She dropped her in the third, then ended it seconds later with a clean shot. As the referee waved the fight off, a smiling Ayton strutted back to her corner, poking her tongue out to her team. "Eddie's been bigging me up, so I had to show what I'm about," said Bristol's Ayton, a flawless 21-0 as an amateur. A beaming Hearn added: "She's born for this. She's built for this. She's a special talent." On a strong night for Matchroom's prospects, Manchester's 2024 Olympian Pat Brown secured his second professional win with a brutal second-round stoppage of Croatia's Ivan Duka. Advertisement A sharp right hook to the body, followed by a thudding left hook and a crisp left uppercut brought an early end to Duka's night. Brown, 25, will be back in the ring in just two weeks' time on 5 July in Manchester. Also on the card, super-bantamweight Peter McGrail earned a hard-fought majority decision over Romania's Ionut Baluta, and British welterweight champion Conah Walker retained his belt with a seventh-round stoppage win over Liam Taylor. More boxing from the BBC
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Briton Yafai stunned by Rodriguez in first pro loss
Galal Yafai's world title ambitions suffered a major setback as the British flyweight was dropped in the final round in a shock points loss to Francisco Rodriguez Jr in in his home city, the 32-year-old Olympic gold medallist was rocked early and struggled to handle the relentless pressure and punch volume from the Mexican in a high-tempo had moments of success and showed resilience, but was repeatedly hurt, notably in the seventh and ninth, before hitting the canvas in the he beat the count, he was clinging on until the end and there was no dispute over the result with scores of 119-108, 119-108 and is defeated for the first time in 10 professional bouts and loses his WBC interim title. Once tipped for a rapid ascent to full world honours, the Tokyo 2020 champion now faces a significant rebuilding job."[Rodriguez] was relentless tonight. Yafai couldn't have got into a worse start but I'm so proud of him," Yafai's promoter, Eddie Hearn, said. Fast start from Rodriguez sets the tone Rodriguez burst out of the blocks, rattling the champion early and buckling Yafai's legs with a sharp left uppercut. Yafai struggled to fully recover as Rodriguez's quick hands continued to find the mark through the early rallied in the fourth, landing clean with his backhand, but was hampered by blood pouring from a cut above his left eye. Rodriguez also suffered a cut later in the Birmingham fighter – who cruised past Sunny Edwards in November – looked second-best throughout, his body language offering little encouragement to the home crowd. He frequently dabbed at the eye and found it difficult to match Rodriguez's had his fired-up corner roaring in the seventh when Yafai was floored, although it was ruled a slip. The damage, however, had already been done earlier in the round, with the 31-year-old away fighter landing a flurry of punches. A crisp straight right and uppercut connected in the eighth, with Yafai showing heart and toughness to stay in the fight. Both men were inspected by doctors before the ninth due to cuts, but it was Rodriguez who continued to dominate, hurting Yafai again as blood stained the referee's the championship rounds, Yafai looked increasingly resigned to his fate. A clean left-right combination dropped him in the 12th. He rose with a wry, deflated smile before moments later leaving the ring without giving a post-fight interview.A world title shot against Japan's unified champion Kenshiro Teraji had seemed within touching distance but instead Yafai's dream of becoming an Olympic and world champion is paused for now."He failed on the hurdle to elite level and that's sometimes what happens. He'd only had nine fights," Hearn added. 'The new Katie Taylor' stars on debut Earlier, Britain's Tiah Mai Ayton announced herself to the professional ranks in style by stopping Hungary's Sara Orszagi in a ferocious "the next Katie Taylor" by Hearn, the 18-year-old super-bantamweight rocked Orszagi with crisp right hands from the opening dropped her in the third, then ended it seconds later with a clean shot. As the referee waved the fight off, a smiling Ayton strutted back to her corner, poking her tongue out to her team."Eddie's been bigging me up, so I had to show what I'm about," said Bristol's Ayton, a flawless 21-0 as an amateur.A beaming Hearn added: "She's born for this. She's built for this. She's a special talent."On a strong night for Matchroom's prospects, Manchester's 2024 Olympian Pat Brown secured his second professional win with a brutal second-round stoppage of Croatia's Ivan Duka. A sharp right hook to the body, followed by a thudding left hook and a crisp left uppercut brought an early end to Duka's 25, will be back in the ring in just two weeks' time on 5 July in on the card, super-bantamweight Peter McGrail earned a hard-fought majority decision over Romania's Ionut Baluta, and British welterweight champion Conah Walker retained his belt with a seventh-round stoppage win over Liam Taylor.
CBS News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Team boxing? Philadelphia Smoke fighting to give the sport a makeover
A new sports league in Philadelphia is fighting to give boxing a makeover. Instead of two fighters going 12 rounds, this league is doubling the number of rounds, but there's a catch: it's a team style. Team Combat League is professional boxing, with a twist. It's the nation's first-ever team boxing league. "That's something I've been wanting since I was a kid because high school has football, soccer, basketball teams, but we don't have that for boxing," Francisco Rodriguez, a lightweight boxer, said. "So, this is new and I'm excited and blessed to be in this opportunity. I'm going to train hard and win these fights." How Team Combat League boxing works There are 12 teams in 12 cities across the country, including the Philadelphia Smoke. League matches feature 24 three-minute rounds where the boxers are switched out after every round. One round, and you're done. "It's one round of non-stop action. It's exciting," Smoke head coach Bobby Kane said. "When you're in there, you're not going to sit down in your seat the whole entire time. It's action-packed, non-stop. It's best fighter vs best fighter. A lot of people are used to taking their time and studying a fighter in the beginning for rounds, but the fighters that come to TCL say this one is harder than doing that." "It's back to wall, time to go" Ray Robinson, a super middleweight boxer for the Smoke, says team boxing is more of a "crowd-pleaser to me." "I think the crowd wins here because you get to see so many different styles in one night," Robinson said. "There's no warm-up round or 'let me see how his style is.' It's back to wall, time to go." Fighters hearing their teammates cheer them on in the ring brings a camaraderie that boxing has never had. "In a traditional fight, you hear three people in your corner, but here you hear the whole team," Rodriguez said. "You hear everyone give their thoughts, motivating you when you feel like you're getting tired. They push you even more." "Not just an all-men sport" Nine of the 12 weight classes are for men, and the last three are for women, making this a co-ed league. "We're bringing female boxing up, and it's not just an all-men sport, boxing," Smoke lightweight boxer Shera Mae Patricio said. "So, we're exposing females out there saying, 'We can actually do the same thing as a man in the sport.'" The Philadelphia Smoke won the championship last year during their first year in the league. They're hoping to repeat this season.
