Ricardo Sandoval vs Galal Yafai set for Sheffield: WBC flyweight champion to defend his world title

WBC unified flyweight champion Ricardo Sandoval now has both opponent and venue set for his next defense: he will face Britain’s Galal Yafai on June 6 in Sheffield, in a fight that pits two very different trajectories within the 112-pound division.

Sandoval enters as the established champion. In 2025, he shocked the boxing world by dethroning Kenshiro Teraji via split decision, a victory that crowned him unified champion and confirmed his ability to compete, and win, at the highest level.

Yafai, the WBC interim champion and Olympic gold medalist, receives a direct shot at the title on home soil.

The bout will be part of a major card in Sheffield, supporting the event headlined by Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello, further boosting the event’s competitive and media appeal.

From a stylistic and narrative standpoint, the fight is especially compelling: Sandoval represents professional experience and consistency over long fights, while Yafai embodies elite amateur pedigree with rapid professional progression. In essence, it is a clash between proven legitimacy and emerging opportunity.

Beyond the belt, the fight also raises a key question in the flyweight division: can Yafai translate his amateur pedigree to the highest professional level, or will Sandoval reaffirm his place as one of the division’s most solid champions?