Don’t take your eye off the prize: Chihuas Rodríguez

It took 11 years for Francisco “Chihuas” Rodríguez to hear his name announced as the new interim flyweight champion of the World Boxing Council, when he defeated Galal Yafir. 

“Thank God it happened, and we’re going for more. This is just the beginning because, of course, we’re going for the absolute championship, and it’s a second wind in my career.”

 The fight was as it should be, “Mexican style, putting my heart into it, throwing all my punches because there was no other way to win it,” said the boxer. 

 “I take away from this that you mustn’t give up, you mustn’t take your foot off the accelerator, you must give it your all, don’t look down because if you do, you lose sight of your goal; never let anyone tell you that you can’t do it, never doubt yourself. 

 “It was a victory where we went to run over the champion, a solid and undefeated champion, a rising star, an Olympic champion. With everything against us, we went out there and little by little we will assimilate this great victory,” said the fighter, who was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León. 

 World champion Kenshiro Teraji is the next target, the one most on his mind. “It’s very tough, that’s why we have to work hard to continue putting on a show and giving people pleasure.” 

 The new interim champion also thanked his corner and his wife, “because without her support and that of my coach, now and in the past, I would not have made it. I am also very grateful to Mauricio Sulaimán for the opportunity, and I am very happy to be Green and Gold and to have my beautiful belt.”