The story began with a significant upset: Mexican challenger Francisco Rodriguez Jr. delivered a dominant performance against Galal Yafai, not only stripping him of his WBC Interim flyweight title but also snatching his undefeated record. The victory, sealed with a late knockdown, seemed conclusive. However, a post-fight drug test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) soon cast a long shadow over Rodriguez`s triumph.
The Initial Shockwave and a Curious Ruling
Eighteen days after the June 21st contest in Birmingham, the boxing community was informed that Rodriguez had returned an adverse analytical finding. The substance in question: heptaminol, a cardiac stimulant. What followed was a swift and, to many, perplexing decision from the WBC.
The WBC declared Rodriguez’s ingestion of the banned substance was deemed: “…accidental, unintentional, unknowing, and not directed to enhance his performance.”
Such a declaration for a stimulant, often sought for its performance-boosting properties, might raise an eyebrow or two. The WBC`s verdict was swift: Rodriguez was placed on a 12-month probation, Yafai was reinstated as WBC Interim flyweight champion, the June 21st bout was declared a no-contest, and perhaps most remarkably, a rematch was ordered. It was a ruling that, on the surface, aimed for balance, but beneath, a storm was brewing.
Hearn`s Revelation: A Second Strike
Enter Eddie Hearn, the outspoken promoter who rarely shies away from controversy. Speaking in Belfast recently, Hearn unleashed a series of critiques against the WBC`s handling of the situation. His principal contention? The WBC, he alleged, had overlooked a critical piece of information, or perhaps, simply hadn`t been privy to it.
“To make it even worse, I found out last night that he [Rodriguez] also failed a drugs test in his last fight,” Hearn stated with palpable frustration. This revelation concerned Rodriguez’s December 2024 bout in San Antonio, Texas, against Josue Jesus Morales. Initially a unanimous decision victory for Rodriguez, that result was quietly overturned to a No Contest by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on June 1st – mere weeks before the Yafai fight.
Hearn`s subsequent conversation with WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, who reportedly confirmed he was unaware of this prior failure, paints a picture of critical information silos. “I spoke to the Texas Commission,” Hearn recounted, “They confirmed he failed a drugs test for that fight. I spoke to Mauricio Sulaiman last night. He said he didn’t know anything about it. I believe him.” The implication is stark: a governing body made a ruling without the full picture.
The “Bizarre” Aftermath and Unanswered Questions
The core of Hearn’s argument rests on the absurdity of the situation: “But let’s look at this. He’s failed back-to-back drug tests on the night, and he’s gone 12 rounds with Galal in a fight that physically damaged Galal. To rule in two weeks that it was accidental and say, ‘He can just come back and have a rematch’ – it’s so bizarre.”
While acknowledging that fighters deserve due process, Hearn questioned the feasibility of such a rapid resolution, particularly without the customary B-sample analysis within a fortnight. The expedited nature of the “accidental” ruling for a fighter now revealed to have a second, consecutive failed test record, casts a long shadow over the efficacy and transparency of anti-doping procedures. It raises uncomfortable questions about how a stimulant can be deemed “unintentional” when its very purpose is often performance enhancement, and how such an oversight regarding a previous violation could occur.
Hearn`s proposed solution is clear: “Now, with the Texas Commission result coming out, this could change everything. I believe Galal Yafai should now be installed as the mandatory challenger.” This would negate the need for a rematch with a fighter twice implicated in doping violations, positioning Yafai for a direct shot at the undisputed title.
Looking Ahead: A Flyweight Future in Flux
As the controversy simmers, attention in the flyweight division now shifts to the current WBC and WBA world champion, Kenshiro Teraji, who is set to defend his titles against Ricardo Sandoval in Yokohama, Japan. The outcome of that fight, combined with the ongoing fallout from the Rodriguez saga, will undoubtedly shape the landscape of the flyweight division for months to come.
