Boxing Results: Birmingham Massacre: Jafai’s Face Maps Rodriguez Jr.’s Fist in a Severe Defeat

WBC interim world flyweight champion Galaljafai (9-1, 7 KOS) is formerly unified WBO and IBF smallest champion Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez, Jr.

(Credit: Geoffrey Knott/Matchroom)

The 2021 Olympic gold medalist Jafai lost a biased, bloody battle against Rodriguez Jr. and recorded a knockdown in the 12th round.

In the first round of Midway, Rodriguez landed a left uppercut on his chin, almost dropping Jafai, continuing to pull him into the clinch for most of the round, and was injured again in the final seconds.

In the second round, Rodriguez switched to Southpaw and returned, with Jafai defending with a four-punch combination. Judge Mark Bates appears to be in support of Jafai, allowing Rodriguez to use his forearm while warning him of a low punch.

In the fourth round, a minute later, a head collision cut Jafai’s left eyebrow. It was another good round for Rodriguez, switching to Southpaw and returning to Orthodox. In the fifth round, Rodriguez suffered a cut in his left eyebrow in one minute of the round. It was an action-packed round. Rodriguez was largely intertwined with Jafai, who retaliated using his push and forearm.

In the seventh round, what Rodriguez appeared to have scored a knockdown was dominated by referee Bates. A big round for Rodriguez. In the eighth round, Jafai continued to use his elbows midway through the round, and Rodriguez defeated Jafai’s head with solids on his chin.

In between rounds, the Ring doctor checked both fighter cuts. Rodriguez largely removed Jafai and was tied up when he did it. In the 10th round, Rodriguez nearly threw Jafai through the ropes in the round for a minute. The judge warns Rodriguez not Jafai for using his forearm. Rodriguez landed more than 100 more punches.

In the 11th round, blood flowed from Jafai’s left eye, and Rodriguez landed consecutive punches in the cut. Again, referee Bates uses his hands to warn Rodriguez and Jafai. In the 12th final round, Rodriguez landed five punches with a final left hook in his chin, dropping Jafai for an eight count from umpire Bates for a minute into the round. Rodriguez stopped the assault that only officials could take from him.

Scores were 119-108, 119-108, and 118-109.

In Chief Support, British champion Kona Walker (16-3-1, 7 KOs) came from behind and stopped former WBO Euro champion lion “Dynamo” Taylor (28-3-1, 14 KOs) at 0:45 in the 12th round scheduled for the war.

In the first round, Walker continued to move forward and fought back at Taylor with an uppercut. In the final seconds, Walker finally landed an effective punch, a left hook on Taylor’s chin. In the second round, Taylor had stopped Walker when Walker was low. A few seconds later he bumped low again, giving him a little break to Judge Bob Williams. He came back and landed five unanswered punches before Walker landed one.

In the third round, in the final minute, Walker landed on the right and drew blood from Taylor’s nose. At midway point in the fourth round, Taylor opened a small cut to Walker’s left brow right. At the very end, Walker was bleeding Taylor’s nose all over his face.

In the fifth round, Walker opposed Taylor to the ropes until Taylor refuted him. Taylor landed a four-punch combination on Walker’s chin at the very end, earning the round.

In the sixth round, Taylor’s jab set the rights to Walker’s jaw for most of the walker. Both have bleeding from the mouth. In the seventh round, Walker dropped Taylor halfway through to his chin to the left, relying on his knees and elbows.

2021 Olympian and WBA International Champion South Pole Peter McGrill (12-1, 6 KOs) won a 10-round majority decision with Game WBO Euro Super Bantam Champion Ionats Barta (17-6-1, 3 KOs).

In the first minute of the first round, both replaced good punches with chins. Several times afterwards, McGrill rocked Balta with a lead left wing in his chin. In the second round, the wild swaying Balta arrives at McGrill’s chin on some left, and he brings him back to the corner.

In the final 30 seconds of the third round, McGrill shook Balta with a right hook into his chin. Along the way, McGreel landed the left lead, driving Balta on a rope that could have been called a knockdown by referee Steve Gray.

At midway point in the sixth round, an accidental forearm from Balta cut off McGrill’s right brow. In the seventh round, Balta had the best round in favor of McGrill’s cut.

In the eighth and ninth rounds, Baluta mostly continued McGrill on land. In the final round of the 10th, Balta had a small lump in his right eye. McGreel, as the cut wasn’t that dominant. Balta came to the battle, and it was the second half of the battle for him. McGrail may have tried to stop in the final round.

Scores were 95-95, 97-93, and 97-93.

Super featherweight Southpaw Ibrahim Sleiman (8-0, 4 Kos) defeated Brian Phillips (12-6, 3 KOs) with an eight-round point decision.

In the first four rounds, Slyman outperformed Phillips. In the eighth and final round, in the final minute, Slyman landed the left and drew blood from Phillips’ nose.

Judge Ryan Churchill scored 80-72.

The lightweight Giorgio Viciori (8-0, 6 Kos) defeated Elias Federico Duguette (7-2-1, 2 KOs) in an eight-round point decision.

Vishiori ruled in the first four rounds. In the eighth round, Viciori landed a left uppercut after Duguett missed on the right of an overhand, then dropped Duguett for an eighth count from referee Ryan Churchill.

Churchill recorded an 80-71 fight.

Middleweight Aaron Bowen (6-0, 4 KOS) stopped Mykola Vovk (15-8, 9 KOS) at 2:22 in the fourth round of the scheduled eight-round battle.

In the third round, Boyer cut Vovk’s right eyelid with a left hook. In the fourth round, Bowell landed a gust of punches, throwing a towel into Vovk’s corner with 0:38 left, forcing referee Kevin Parker to stop.

Bantamweight Hamza Uddin (5-0, 2 Kos) knocked out Southpaw Leandro Jose Blanc (8-3, 3 Kos) at 0:37, seventh place in the scheduled eighth round.

Ryan Cherhill was a judge.

Heavyweight 2024 Olympian Putt Brown (2-0, 2 Kos) stopped Ivanduca (5-6, 3 KOs) at 1:02 in the second round of the scheduled sixth round.

At the opening minute of the first round, Brown’s jabs and rights bulged under Duca’s right eye. In the second round, he went to Duca for an eight count from umpire Kevin Parker, who was an uppercut to the chin and body, and stopped Duca’s Rising.

Super Flyweight Tiermay-Ayton (1-0, 1 KO) knocked out Sara Orzagi (2-8) at 0:23 in the third round of the scheduled sixth round.

In the third round, Aiton dropped Ortheggie twice, and referee Ryan Churchill called for a halt.

The ring announcer was David Diamante.