Yafai can fly high in the States if he takes care of Israel first

KAL YAFAI defends his WBA super flyweight title for the fourth time in Monaco. Now is the time to make hay.

The eldest of the three Yafai brothers, Kal is not in first bloom. He’s 29, which is getting on a bit for the lighter weights, though as a counter puncher the miles on the clock are not as telling.

Like Gamal and Galal after him, he enjoyed a world-class amateur career before turning pro. A European silver medalist and an Olympian in 2008 at Beijing, Yafai lost out to the talented Andrew Selby for a place on the London team. At 5ft 4in, he is quite tall for the division. He is strong with a big punch and is clever on the counter.

His opponent, Israel Gonzalez is just 22. He lost his first world-title shot to the dangerous IBF champion Jerwin Ancajas and has only one other defeat, a six-rounder to Argi Cortes.

Gonzalez, like most Mexicans, likes to have a go. Though tall and rangy at 5ft 6in, his style is perfect for Yafai, who is looking to make a statement at this stage of his career. With his promoter Eddie Hearn (right, with Yafai) establishing a presence in the United States, Yafai has a better chance of connecting with the other champions in the division.

There are some terrific fights out there and great exposure to be had. WBC champion Wisaksil Wangek would be amazing.

As would a bout with Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, who fought Wangek to a standstill in the fight of the night at Madison Square Garden on the Gennady Golovkin/ Daniel Jacobs bill.

I’d be surprised if Yafai doesn’t get Gonzales out of there in the last third of the fight. He needs to win big then start calling out the other champions. He has the tools. He bangs hard with the right hand and has a really good left hook, arguably his best punch. Yafai has 15 KOS in 24 bouts. It gets harder to finish opponents early the higher up the food chain you go, so he knows it might go to the cards as three of his four defences have. But Yafai has the talent to get the job done and set up a grand finale to a fine career.