Francisco Rodriguez Jr. has been hit with fresh scrutiny after the Texas commission confirmed that his eight-round win over Josue Jesus Morales last December was quietly overturned to a no-contest when Rodriguez returned a positive drug test. The revelation comes only days after the 33-year-old Mexican’s dominant June victory over Olympic gold-medalist Galal Yafai in Birmingham was also changed to a no-contest when VADA detected the banned stimulant heptaminol.
Promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Yafai, blasted the WBC’s decision to place Rodriguez on a 12-month probation yet allow an immediate rematch for the interim flyweight title, pointing out that the Birmingham failure was Rodriguez’s second in succession. “He’s failed back-to-back drug tests on the night and physically damaged Galal,” Hearn said, insisting his fighter should now be installed as mandatory challenger rather than be forced straight back into a rematch. WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán stated he was unaware of the December finding; meanwhile the British Boxing Board of Control has asked UKAD to investigate and stressed that its own ruling on the Birmingham bout will be made independently of the WBC’s announcement.
For now Rodriguez remains on WBC probation, Yafai is restored as interim champion, and a rematch is technically ordered, but the newly uncovered Texas violation could yet alter those plans.
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