Comments Thread For: Low risk but high stakes fight for former Olympic champion Tony Yoka

[BoxingUpdates]

Once-touted French heavyweight Tony Yoka (11-3) tries to get his career back on track on Saturday (July 27) with a fight scheduled for eight three-minute rounds against Belgian cruiserweight Amine Boucetta (8-15) at the Tolworth Recreation Centre in London, reports dhnet.be.
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[edpboxing]

Wow. Finally out of France for a fight though lol

[JeBron Lamez]

Tony Yoka is a pony choker.

[JakeTheBoxer]

Yoka is a joke.

[aumonier]

This is the kind of fights Yoka should have done early in his career (he has only fought 14 times in pro since 2016 olympic title, and met guys like Jonny Rice, Dave Allen and Christian Hammer in his first ten fights), and the kind of fight he have to do to expect get confidence again. I agree another loss would mean the end of his pro career, but I guess it is already too late, I don't see him getting world class level anytime in the future. But he may still be in the division for a few years and provide good oppisitions to some rising fighters (and hopefully get an upset). Now that is how I see it going for him : win some fights against secondary fighters to stay in shape and ratings, and sometimes face good names, this time being the chllenger and only expecting an upset.

[Willow The Wisp]

I have been closely following the international amateur scene since the 68' Olympics.
The trick is deciding how well the talents exhibited there will transfer to the protracted rules of the professionals. It's an area where I have focused some attention. Normally I'm a very good talent scout, but not perfect.
I once wrote something to the effect that Howard Davis was surefire. Well, he was very gifted, and did well, but the aspirations that I held for him is a brutal journey for anybody.
Same thing happened with Kenny Gould, and Mark Brealand, who did fine; though falling discernably short of 'the next Ray Robinson'.
Yoka was the last guy I faltered with.
The guy has a great deal of ability. Something missing though. He had as good a pro start as anyone. Looked to follow Joshua to the summit. Then, the one year suspension for globetrotting his testing.
(Screw testing. Wanna aid boxers?, invent a glove that doesn't cause brain damage).
After that, apprehensive. Fights like a guy being eaten by a lion.
Could he recover? Sure. With his athleticism and build? It happens in boxing. But he'd have to start low. I thought Merhy was low enough last time.
He DOES have gifts he might want to realign himself with. Better fundamentals in the ams than many, including Joshua.
Every once in a while, a guy just doesn't transfer well.

I love redemption stories.

[PBR Streetgang]

Yoka was matched aggressively early on his career and, for the most part, impressed in those performances. I thought he showed some red flags of concern in the Hammer fight. Itbwas a good experience but i thought he got frustrated with the veteran's rough tactics.

Perhaps the Bakole fight was too soon, perhaps he was never good enough, but he never seemed to recover from that beatdown. Of course, one has to wonder if PEDs played a role in all of this...