Two months after Francisco ‘Chihuas’ Rodriguez Jr. tested positive for a banned substance, Galal Yafai is still officially marked down as 9-1.
Despite the WBC ruling the June 21 Birmingham clash a No Contest and reinstating Yafai as interim flyweight champion, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) has yet to recognize the decision.
BoxRec remains unaltered, with Yafai still listed as suffering his first professional defeat.
WBC vs. British Boxing Board of Control
That discrepancy has triggered heavy criticism, particularly given the scale of the failed test. VADA confirmed Rodriguez ingested Heptaminol, a banned stimulant, on fight night, leading the WBC to strip him of the interim title and impose a twelve-month probation.
However, the WBC’s sanction was issued without the backing of the local regulator, sparking pushback from respected journalist Ricardo Celis.
“How can the WBC impose a twelve-month ‘probation‘ sanction on Chihuas Rodríguez if the BBBofC has not issued a ruling?” Celis asked. “They are the ones with the authority to apply the sanction since the fight took place in the United Kingdom.
“We know that suspensions in the BBBofC range from one to two years. They do not give ‘probation’ once a boxer tests positive.”
Mi estimado Mau, para el Chihuas Rodríguez, no es la primera vez que da positivo. La Comisión de Texas, ya lo había reportado con un doping positivo en su pelea del 15 de Dic. 2024 en San Antonio vs Josue Morales, razón por la cual cambiaron el resultado a un ND.
Aqui el… https://t.co/N71ZYvxoPq— Ricardo Celis (@CelisDeportes) July 28, 2025
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman hit back, “The WBC has every right, according to our rules, to impose sanctions on boxers competing for our championship. The sanction is exclusively from the WBC.”
What Happens Next?
That leaves Yafai in limbo. Officially reinstated as interim champion by the WBC, yet still carrying a blemish on his record, the Olympic gold medalist has not seen the result corrected in the UK.
For now, Rodriguez remains credited with the win on paper, despite the WBC voiding it and ordering a direct rematch.
Rodriguez’s Birmingham performance, with a record-breaking 528 power punches landed, as recorded by CompuBox, risks being remembered more for controversy than achievement.
Until the BBBofC acts, Yafai’s first career loss stands.
World Boxing News will continue to monitor whether the British authorities bring their ruling into line with the WBC’s no-contest order.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.