Crunch time approaches for Galal

THE MIDLAND BOXING BEAT WITH MIKE LOCKLEY

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THE unexpected, comprehensive defeat of golden boy Galal Yafai presents promoter Eddie Hearn with a dilemma.

The loss to Mexican Francisco Rodriguez on Matchroom’s major Resorts World bill showed Birmingham's Yafai is not yet ready to claim the world flyweight title.

And time is not on the side of the Olympic champion - or Hearn. Following the wide points loss - 119-108 (twice), 118-109 - a number of fight figures have expressed concern Yafai has been pushed too quickly. It was fast-tracking at a dangerous speed and on Saturday night the wheels fell off.

They have not won me over. Yes, the 12-round pounding, with southpaw Yafai floored in the final session, was only his tenth professional contest - and he was already WBC “interim” world champ.

But the man is 32 and even with today’s sports science, that’s getting on for a flyweight. Hearn has moved Yafai quickly because he had to.

And that’s why last weekend's result is such a hammer blow for promoter and fallen fighter. Yafai will need time before returning to the ring and could well be 33 when again seeing action.

The shocking result tore up a carefully-crafted blueprint for glory. Had he won, Yafai could have contested the world title proper in his next fight.

Rodriguez, also 32, seemed the ideal opponent. He had been a champion but that was down at straw-weight. His 47-fight record suggested a warrior who fell short on the big occasions and had seen better days.