Galar Jafai’s loss to Francisco Rodriguez Jr.: blames Adam Smith for “putting the wrong fight in the box”

Commentator Adam Smith will box Francisco Rodriguez Jr. (40-6-1, 27 KOs) in the 12th round unanimous decision loss of WBC interim flyweight champion Galal Jafai’s 12th round to Francisco Rodriguez Jr. (40-6-1, 27 KOs) in the “wrong fight” at BP Pulse Live Arena in Birmingham, England last Saturday night.

(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom)

Yafai’s “Wrong Battle” Choice

Smith did not say what kind of battle is the 2020 Olympic gold medalist Yafai (9-1, 7 KOs) fighting. The combination of punching and high power from the Mexican was too much for Jafai (age 32) to cope.

Scores were 119-108, 119-108, and 118-109. Rodriguez Jr. dropped Jafai in the 12th round and put him on the verge of knocking out. It was Holding that saved Galar. In the final, he wasn’t trying to win. He was in survival mode.

Galar used contact retention to neutralize Francis’ power, but that wasn’t enough. Rodriguez Jr. was still beating him with punches once he was free. His massive amount of accuracy was unrealistic.

Final Punch Statistics

• Francis Collodriguez: landed at 53% connectivity rate from 575 shots
• Galal Yafai: 230 out of 795 with 34% connectivity rate

What’s impressive is that most of the punches Rodriguez Jr. threw were power shots. He landed 528 out of 969 punches with a 54% connectivity rate. It’s no wonder Jafai was dropped in 12 rounds.

Smith: The fight is “hard to see”

“There was a point that could have been stopped. It was tough to see,” commentator Adam Smith said. Professional boxing fan Last Saturday night, about the battle of Galar Jafai with Francisco Rodriguez Jr. “He’s backed down for years. He was sensational,” Smith said of Rodriguez.

The fight appeared to have been stopped in round 11 as Yafai was assaulted and injured. Again, it was all the clinches that kept him from being knocked out. Galar should have been overretained and warned by the judge.

“Eddie (Hern) said, “An absolute merciless performance from Rodriguez. Galar got off to a bad start by putting the wrong fight in the box.” He learned what it’s like to box at an elite level. And he has time to rebuild at 32. Many achievements of Gallaryafai,” Adam said.

There was nothing that Jafai could not give him a chance to win, as he couldn’t match Rodriguez’s output. His punches were definitely more difficult than Rodriguez Jr., but not enough.

“I didn’t think he would do that. I thought (trainer) Rob might throw a towel, or I’d have the power of a judge,” Smith said. “I thought it would be difficult to watch the last few minutes. That’s tough. Jafai is a great fighter and an Olympic gold medalist. This is what happens.”

The fight could have stopped in rounds 10, 11, or 12, as Yafai was hurt in each of those rounds. Yafai’s horn left him there.

“You’ve gone up to an elite level and you’ve been getting acidic tested. To me, you looked like a very good amateur with a very good cured pro,” Smith said.