Super Flyweight Throne Ripe for the Taking
Unified super flyweight champion Jesse Rodriguez (24-0, 17 KOs) vacated his three titles in order to become a 118-pound champion when he defeated Antonio Vargas about a week ago.
Rodriguez held the WBA, WBO, and WBC super flyweight world titles and is regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters globally.
With the belts now vacant, the division is ripe for new champions, as Rodriguez aims to take on a new weight class and a secure a possible showdown with Naoya Inoue.
This news will be welcomed by many contenders eager for a chance at the belts. Among them is Ghana’s own Theophilus Allotey (14-0, 11 KOs), whose credentials include top-15 rankings in all four major sanctioning bodies and a number 9 spot by The Ring Magazine.
South African contender, Sikho Nqothole, achieved a notable recent win over former flyweight champion Charlie Edwards. Nqothole is ranked number 1 by the IBF, 10 by the Ring and 11 and 21 by the WBO and WBC, respectively.
The former division champion Phumelela Cafu (11-1-3, 8 KOs) is yet another contender who will be throwing his name in the hat for the title he once held. Cafu’s singular loss in his professional career came at the hands of Jesse Rodriguez in 2025. With Rodriguez no longer in the division, the timing is perfect for his title campaign.
Several other contenders, including Tomoya Tsuboi, Kenshiro Teraji, John Ramirez and Ricardo Malajika will also be in the mix should the opportunity arise for a title fight.
Already in June, interim super flyweight champion David “Medallita” Jiménez was elevated to World Champion after Rodriguez vacated the belt.
While Australia’s Andrew Moloney dethroned Willibaldo Garcia Perez to become the new IBF world champion.
At present, the Ring, WBC, and WBO Super flyweight championships are vacant.