Galal Yafai becomes the latest British fighter to be sunk by a travelling Mexican
Lewis Watson 
It was a tough night for Galal Yafai on Saturday, coming up short in a fight for the WBC flyweight title against Francisco Rodriguez Jr.
The British fighter had been favourite with online betting sites before the bout to claim the interim belt, but was soundly beaten on the night.
Free Bets boxing expert Lewis Watson has looked a little closer at the fight.
It was as if Galal Yafai spoke Saturday night's flyweight contest into existence.
Just 48 hours before he touched gloves with the teak-tough travelling Mexican, Francisco Rodriguez Jr., Yafai stated that: “Anyone that knows him, he comes forward, I come forward. It should make for a great fight for the fans, not so good for myself and him."
But what he didn't bank on was the contest becoming so easy for the 47-fight boxing veteran.
Rodriguez bagged the interim WBC flyweight title thanks to a 119-108, 119-108, 118-109 win on the scorecards inside Resorts World, Birmingham, leaving team Yafai scratching their head as to what went wrong and what's next aged 32.
Yafai was attempting to join an elusive club of male fighters that have won both gold Olympics medals and a world championship - only achieved by Anthony Joshua and James Degale, but as Rodriguez rushed centre-ring to throw early bombs at the head of Yafai, it was always looking like a long night was ahead of him.
"The power had gone and he was just taking a beating, but Rodriguez, I thought, was sensational," Yafai's promoter, Eddie Hearn stated after the fight. "I mean, I think after six rounds, well over a thousand punches were thrown from both guys.
"Just 30 seconds in, got buzzed bad, and even probably nicked one or two rounds in the first five, but then after that it was just all completely one way."
"At the end of the day you've got to show that you're ready for that level," Hearn continued. "For some reason, I thought he boxed very poorly tonight for him, for his ability, but also you've got to give credit to Rodriguez, it was just relentless.
"I think it's one of them where, obviously you've lost one level short of where you want to be, so you've got to come back, or, it's very difficult to walk away. I mean, he's 32, but he's only had 10 fights, and he's moved very quickly,
"It's easy when you're winning fights easily and going through the levels and you look ready for those guys, but then sometimes it's a step too far, but we think he's a fighter that should be fighting at that level, so I think it's a time for reflection."
Yafai joins a list of fighters that have been upset by unfancied Mexicans on home soil. Josh Warrington and Leigh Wood are two former world champions who have most recently been beaten against the odds, with the work rate and tenacity of the Latin Americans proving too much to negate effectively.
A former unified strawweight champion who previously challenged for titles at light flyweight and super flyweight, Rodriguez will now have the chance to become a two-division world champion later this year, likely in Japan against the brilliant Kenshiro Teraji.
Keep an eye out for all the latest boxing betting tips ahead of every major fight this year, courtesy of our in-house betting expert Lewis Watson.
