On June 21, Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez overwhelmed the defending WBC Interim flyweight champion Galal Yafai to win via unanimous decision in Birmingham, England.
The home favourite Yafai was battered in front of his hometown fans, live on DAZN, as the visitor threw a record 1087 punches in 12 rounds, landing double that of Yafai with 575 punches landed to 230.
The 33-year-old Mexican was like a man possessed, and it’s since transpired that he ingested two banned substances prior.
As such, his illegitimate victory has been overturned to a No Contest – his second in a row – and his WBC Interim title handed back to the rightful owner, Galal Yafai.
The following is the WBC’s complete ruling on Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez adverse findings from antidoping test on his fight vs Galal Yafai:
On July 8, 2025, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (“VADA”) notified the WBC that the urine “A Sample” collected from Francisco Rodriguez, Jr., on June 21, 2025, in Birmingham, UK in connection with his bout for the Interim WBC World Flyweight Championship against Galal Yafai yielded an adverse analytical finding for Heptaminol.
The WBC Clean Boxing Program undertook an investigation of the specific circumstances, health concerns, and legal precedent surrounding the Adverse Finding, in light of the governing WBC Rules & Regulations and WBC CBP Protocol. The WBC also held a series of hearings with Mr. Rodriguez and his representatives to receive their position and any applicable exculpatory facts.
After a thorough factual and scientific review of the Adverse Finding, and considering Champion Rodriguez’s admission of the circumstances of his non-intentional ingestion of a banned substance, and the fact that Mr. Rodriguez had reported in his WBC CBP registration document the use of an over-the-counter energy booster which label included two banned substances, the WBC and Champion Rodriguez agreed to enter into an Adjudication Agreement which relevant provisions and findings are:
a. Mr. Rodriguez ingestion of a banned substance(s) was accidental, unintentional, unknowing, and not directed to enhance his performance.
b. The WBC has placed Mr. Rodriguez on “Probation Status” for a period of twelve (12) months from the date the sample that resulted in the Adverse Finding was collected, or until June 21, 2026.
c. The WBC shall declare vacant Champion Rodriguez’ interim title and reinstate Galal Yafai as the reigning WBC Interim World Flyweight Champion and order a direct rematch between Yafai and Rodríguez.
d. The WBC shall change the outcome of Rodriguez v. Yafai June 21, 2025, bout to No Contest in the WBC records. The WBC is hereby making a request to the British Boxing Board of Control, as the authority which oversaw that bout, to change the result of that bout to a no-contest as well.
e. In the event of any adverse finding, or any other situation that the WBC considers reasonable proof that Mr. Rodriguez has ingested any WBC CBP-banned substance during his Probation Status period, the WBC shall suspend Mr. Rodriguez indefinitely from engaging in any WBC activity or receiving any WBC privilege, and impose any additional penalties it deems appropriate without any further inquiry.
f. VADA shall arrange for Mr. Rodriguez to undergo a minimum of three (3) random tests at his own cost and expense during the probationary period.
g. During his Probation Status, Mr. Rodriguez shall participate in a program to be designed and conducted by the WBC Nutrition Committee. The program shall aim to address the WBC’s concerns about Mr. Rodriguez’s health and safety in light of the circumstances of the Adverse Finding. At a minimum, that program shall comprise no less than once per week counselling sessions in a 30-day period (4 sessions) focusing on prevention of consumption of banned substances and at Champion Rodriguez’s sole cost.
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