Boxing Betting Tips: Galal Yafai v Francisco Rodriguez Jr preview, predictions and best bets | live on DAZN

Saturday promises an evening of high-stakes action from Birmingham as boxing takes centre stage at the BP Pulse Arena. The headline act sees Galal Yafai put his WBC interim flyweight title on the line against Mexico’s battle-hardened Francisco Rodriguez Jr, a fight that could propel the Birmingham southpaw towards a shot at full world honours later in the year. Check out our expert preview and tips, which include a selection of the best betting offers available to maximise the return of this fight.

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Boxing betting tips: Galal Yafai v Francisco Rodriguez Jr Predictions

Can Yafai Pass His Toughest Test Yet on the Road to a World Title?
  • Yafai boasts a KO rate of 77.78% but has shown a more patient, tactical approach in recent bouts.
  • Rodriguez has only been stopped once in 46 fights, and that was over 11 years ago.
  • Rodriguez went the distance with elite fighters Ioka and Nakatani without being dropped.

Our Best Bet

Hamzah Sheeraz To Win By KO TKO or DQ
7/2 - odds when tipped
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Reasoning
Sheeraz now fights at a more natural weight, with a stronger engine and under the guidance of Andy Lee. Berlanga is powerful but flat-footed, and struggles when taken past the early rounds. If Sheeraz survives the early pressure, his sharper skills and stamina should lead to a stoppage win.

The DAZN-televised card is a tightly packed affair, with a mixture of established names and rising talent. Also featuring on the bill is Peter McGrail, who steps in against upset specialist Ionut Baluta in a fight laced with personal motivation. Baluta has already toppled McGrail’s gym-mates Brad Strand and Andrew Cain, and the Liverpudlian will be determined not to join that list.

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Further down the undercard, the likes of Conah Walker, Liam Taylor and Ibraheem Sulaimaan provide depth and local flavour to what should be a captivating night for fight fans across the UK. But it’s Yafai who commands the spotlight, carrying the weight of expectations from both his home crowd and the British boxing public.

Still undefeated after nine professional outings, Yafai now faces a seasoned campaigner in Rodriguez, who has shared the ring with some of the best in the lower-weight divisions. With a world title opportunity against Kenshiro Teraji looming, the stakes for the Olympic gold medallist could not be higher.

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Best Bet for Today’s Action

Galal Yafai To Win By Decision & No Knockdowns In The Fight

Here at BettingTips4You, we prioritise precision over quantity. Rather than overwhelm readers with a list of selections, we distil the action into one standout bet per card. This focused approach enhances clarity, simplifies the decision-making process, and gives us greater accountability in tracking our performance.

For Saturday night, the recommendation is Galal Yafai to win by decision, with no knockdowns in the fight.


Why This Selection Makes Sense

Yafai may have made a statement by dismantling Sunny Edwards inside six rounds, but that was a contest shaped by style as much as strength. Edwards’ evasive approach was systematically broken down by Yafai’s pressure, footwork and angles. Rodriguez presents a contrast – a come-forward aggressor, physically stronger than Edwards, and equipped with experience against elite operators.

However, Rodriguez is also durable to a fault. The Monterrey man has only been stopped once in a 46-fight career, and that was over a decade ago against Roman Gonzalez – a fighter destined for the Hall of Fame. Even in more recent defeats against Kazuto Ioka and Junto Nakatani, Rodriguez was never close to being stopped, proving that his chin has withstood the test of time and class.

While Yafai possesses real pop in his punches – evidenced by a 77.78% knockout rate – the odds of him being able to halt a battle-tested opponent who has never been stopped at flyweight seem slim. More likely is that the Brummie builds a healthy lead on the scorecards early, using his angles and combinations to outbox Rodriguez while avoiding extended exchanges.

Rodriguez, for all his volume and grit, hasn’t been in a meaningful fight since 2022 and enters the ring off a no-contest. The years of war may have dulled some of his edge, but his toughness remains intact. If Yafai’s gas tank starts to waver, as it did momentarily in past contests, the Mexican may enjoy some late success, but not enough to shift the balance. A points verdict for Yafai looks not only safer but also tactically sound.

Furthermore, both men have shown resilience under fire, making the absence of knockdowns a logical addition to this betting angle. Neither has been known for flash knockdowns, and given Rodriguez’s proven chin and Yafai’s measured, pressure-based style, a tactical battle with no men hitting the canvas is well within expectations.

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Steve Harrington
Steve Harrington is a sportswriter whose heart beats for football. With a passion that began in the grassroots, he's witnessed the magic of the game from local pitches to grand stadiums. Over the past 7 years, Steve has lent his expertise to several online publications, chronicling the ever-evolving world of football. Beyond his professional pursuits, he holds a special affection for Burnley Football Club, cherishing every triumph and tribulation. Steve believes in the power of storytelling and its ability to bring the beautiful game closer to its ardent fans.