Francisco Rodriguez Jr. fails drug tests. Jafai

Matchroom yesterday revealed that Francisco Rodriguez Jr. (40-6-1, 27 KOs) had tested positive for a banned substance from a VADA test following a 12-round unanimous decision victory via WBC interim flyweight champion Galaljafai (9-1, 7 KOs) in Birmingham, England on June 21. Rodriguez Jr., 33, is currently under investigation and his B-sample is currently being tested.

Rodriguez Jr. Doping Test Positive

Veteran Rodriguez Jr. beat Jafai’s stuffing and outworked with wide margins along the way to win with scores 119-108, 119-108 and 118-109. The fight should have been stopped in the sixth round, as it was clear that Jafai had no chance to win and was completely beaten by Rodriguez.

Punch statistics: Dominant Rodriguez Jr.

• Francisco Rodriguez Jr: 575 punches landed at 53% with 1089 punches. Of that total, 528 is a power punch, meaning that almost everything he threw had power.
• Galal Yafai: 230 of 795 at 34%.

It is unclear whether the outcome of the battle will be ruled with No Contest and Yafai has returned the interim title for WBC. But it can be said that the same thing happens no matter how many times they fight, in the way he lost to Rodriguez Jr. For fans who have never seen Rodriguez, he is known for always having a high punch output. This was not the norm for him to have high power.

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn didn’t say whether he would line up a rematch. Given how one-sided it was, it’s unlikely he would do that. Rodriguez Jr. could ruin Jafai in his second fight if he throws more than 1,000 punches again. Yafai is like his brother Kal Yafai in the way he fights.

Rodriguez Jr.’s high punch output

Jafai fans are furious that Rodriguez Jr.’s test is positive, with some saying, “I told you.” They felt he had to be in the PED with the tons of shots Rodriguez threw. That’s how he’s always been fighting his whole professional career, and he would never have tested positive tests on previously banned substances.

Latest news for Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez. pic.twitter.com/mrfjrxbtok

– Matchroomboxing (@matchroomboxing) July 9, 2025