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WBC Orders Ricardo Sandoval Galal Yafai, Cancels Francisco Rodriguez Jr Rematch
Ring Magazine
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Mosope Ominiyi
Mosope Ominiyi
RingMagazine.com
WBC Orders Ricardo Sandoval-Galal Yafai, Cancels Francisco Rodriguez Jr Rematch
Galal Yafai's proposed rematch with Francisco Rodriguez Jr has been cancelled and instead, the WBC are ordering the Olympic champion to face newly-crowned unified WBC and WBA titleholder Ricardo Sandoval next.

Yafai (9-1, 7 KOs) suffered a damaging first defeat of his professional career during their Birmingham headliner on June 21, though the sanctioning body have since begun attempts to scrub the Mexican's 12-round decision win off the record books after the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) notified them about a positive post-fight night anti-doping test.

The WBC's Clean Boxing Program insisted they would observe due process after a thorough investigation and following an expedited outcome, have altered one key condition previously set out from their original ruling posted on July 26.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told The Ring's Louis Hart: "The WBC had originally ordered a rematch, we have cancelled that and ordered Yafai - because the fight was changed to a no-contest - to face Sandoval. That's the ruling as it states right now."


Yafai-Rodriguez Jr was for the interim title and right to challenge the Kenshiro Teraji-Ricardo Sandoval winner, for their July 30 matchup in Japan. Golden Boy-backed Sandoval surprised many by dethroning the Japanese titleholder -- so by reinstating Yafai as interim champion and cancelling the rematch, this is the next port of call.

Rodriguez is said to have listed the supplements he was taking and not requested a B-sample be tested, such was immediate clarity over what had caused the adverse finding.

The 33-year-old used an over-the-counter energy booster which included two prohibited substances on the label, which led the WBC to believe ingestion was accidental and not for performance-enhancing reasons.

When asked to go into further detail, Sulaiman said: "Most fighters are not educated in many aspects and they suffer the consequences. He [Rodriguez Jr] has already suffered from his stupidity, naiveity and ignorance, lost the title he won in the ring.


"We made justice to Yafai but are not going to abandon Chihuas, he still has a future. I've known him many years, he's a decent family man and married with beautiful kids, never been in a situation [like this before]. I'm convinced from the expert testimony and his, it was an absolute mistake without bad intentions and he's already been punished."

At the time of writing, Yafai's record remains 9-1 and there has been no result amendment to the contrary. The Ring has contacted the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), who commissioned this bout, for comment.
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