‘The Special One’: Three Potential Opponents for Galal Yafai

Galal Yafai (5-0, 4 KOs) scored a brutal first-round stoppage win over Tommy Frank (15-4-1, 3 KOs) at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, England. Yafai is an unbelievable fighter who enjoyed a plethora of success during his amateur career, including winning the flyweight gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Yafai has settled into the professional game well and racked up his fifth win in a row since turning pro, defeating Tommy Frank in one round.

The Birmingham-born fighter caught his opponent with a leaping right hook before finishing him off with a barrage of eye-catching punches, which forced referee John Latham to step in and halt the fight at 1:40 of the first round. How far can Yafai go? Big Fight Weekend has decided to look at three potential opponents for the British fighter.

Three Potential Opponents for Galal Yafai

Olympic champion! Wow pic.twitter.com/Ys4nyYxKmn

— Galal Yafai (@galal_yafai) August 7, 2021

Galal Yafai vs. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (52-6-1)

Following his professional debut win over tough Mexican Carlos Bautista, Tony Bellew described Yafai as “the special one.” Yafai is tipped to make a big step up in his next fight, with promoter Eddie Hearn saying the 30-year-old Birmimgham-born fight could face flyweight legend Srisaket Sor Rungvisai next. 

The legendary Thai flyweight would be a formidable opponent for Yafai with his huge punching power and experience. Rungvisai has some impressive scalps on his record, including Roman Gonzalez. Yafai will have to be wary of Rungvisai working the body, and his movement and boxing at a distance will have to be on point to negate the power of his Thai opponent.

Hear Dan Rafael with T.J. Rives breaking down Yafai’s huge first round KO Saturday on the latest “Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast” by clicking play below,

Yafai vs. Carlos Cuadras (40-5-1)

Carlos Cuadras, the Sinaloaan-born flyweight, would be a tough opponent for Yafai at any stage of his career, let alone after five fights. The tough Mexican brings experience by the bucket load, having won 40 of his 46 professional contests. Career highlights include a win over Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.

Yafai will need to be at his best to defeat the experienced Mexican, who is rugged and picks his punches extremely well, and Yafai will need to keep his distance well and land combinations without engaging with Cuadras too much. Yafai was listed on our 5 underrated flyweights to watch out for in 2023, and a win over Cuadras would surely catapult him into world title contention.

Yafai vs. Connor Butler (10-0-1)

Despite wanting Yafai to fight Srisaket or Cuadras next, Hearn may have to look closer to home for his fighter’s next opponent. Connor Butler recently defeated Matt Windle to win the vacant European flyweight title. Butler is undefeated in his professional career and would seemingly provide a logical step up in class for Yafai.

Butler has impressed with his come-forward aggressive style – picking his punches well. He has good head movement but is prone to leaving his hands down, which will be music to the ears of Yafai, who has the amateur pedigree to capitalise on any mistake from his opponent. A step up to fight for the European flyweight title would be a sensible step up in class for the Tokyo Olympic Flyweight gold medalist.