Galal Yafai has been elevated to mandatory challenger status for the WBC flyweight world title after it emerged that Francisco Rodriguez returned a positive drug test following their June meeting. The development paves the way for Yafai to challenge unified champion Ricardo Sandoval, likely in the United States early in 2026.
“I’m hearing it’s the first quarter of next year,” Yafai told Sky Sports. “I’ve just got to make sure I’m 100 per cent ready. Most likely it will be in America.”
Yafai lost a 12-round decision to Rodriguez in Birmingham, a fight in which the Mexican repeatedly hurt him and scored a late knockdown. At the time that defeat was a major blow: Yafai had been unbeaten as a professional, held the WBC interim title and was viewed as on the brink of a world championship opportunity.
Only after the fight did officials disclose Rodriguez’s failed test. Yafai said the nature of the loss felt out of character given his experience at elite amateur and professional levels. He reflected on how unusually straightforward Rodriguez’s victory had seemed and acknowledged that it prompted him to ask tough questions about his own performance.
Yafai is seeking the result to be changed to a no contest and says UK Anti-Doping and the British boxing authorities are handling the case. “Due diligence has to be done,” he said, adding that he expects the organisations to resolve the matter but understands that investigations take time.
While he waits for that outcome, Yafai has redirected his focus to securing the world title. He accepts that Sandoval presently holds two belts and believes the disputed defeat is a temporary setback. The controversy, he says, has become motivation rather than a distraction.
“I’m happy to move on and fight for the world title,” he added. Yafai stresses that his control is limited to his preparation: training hard, getting back to form and beating whoever stands in front of him. With the Rodriguez episode behind him, he is concentrating on the next step of his career and on claiming the title he believes he deserved.