Frenchman Tony Yoka returns to the rings on Saturday March 11 at the Zénith de Paris, where he faces veteran Carlos Takam.
Ten months after suffering the first defeat of his career, Tony Yoka will be able to bounce back like a kangaroo, and forget this masterful slap against the Congolese Martin Bakole. A setback that had marked a big setback in his conquest of the heights of boxing.
” I want to show that I worked »
When putting on the gloves, the 2016 Olympic champion does not want to ” just a victory “, but ” a victory with manner “. ” I can’t wait to box again. I want to show that I worked, that I had a defeat, of course, but that I can bounce back from that “, he lets go. At Bercy, on May 14, Yoka had been overtaken by the power of his opponent after kneeling on the ground in the first round. Fallen from his pedestal, the hero of the Rio Olympics has kept a low profile, cutting with sport time to rebuild. He claims today to have completely digested this defeat.
To get back to the place, Yoka chose the experienced Carlos Takam, (39 wins for 7 losses and a draw). ” I didn’t want to come back with a little fight. I wanted to come back with a strong fight and I think it is. he says. At 42, Takam remains on two defeats, one on points against the Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov last September, and a loss against the Englishman Joe Joyce by stoppage of the referee on the 6th recovery, in July 2021. But before that , the native of Douala in Cameroon has fought the gratin of the category, from Anthony Joshua to Alexander Povetkin or Joe Joyce, and he still represents a reference and a danger for his opponents.
Two boxers who know each other well
” I’m going to tire the little youngster, he thinks the old lion is finished? No, I’m still here “, promises Takam. ” The veteran, he is still young in spirit and there, it will hurt. The two men know each other well since Yoka served as Takam’s sparring partner for a long time before turning professional.
At 42, Carlos Takam is still fighting at the top level. A longevity that inevitably raises questions. “ It’s true that you need a perfect lifestyle, but I also have to thank my parents for their genes. When my maternal grandmother died, she was 103, so I have good genes. Good hygiene is essential. Afterwards, I don’t know what the secret is, maybe sleep a lot, don’t drink, don’t smoke and smile a lot. Laughter removes wrinkles “, he laughs.
For his part, Yoka left for four months on a commando course in Las Vegas, under the orders of his American trainer Virgil Hunter. “ Four months of eating boxing morning, noon and night. It is very hard on the body and on the mind. It’s hard, but we have to go through it. The motivation and the determination that we can have in a fight, we draw it from these moments “says Yoka, who knows he is eagerly awaited in episode 13 of his conquest, which is supposed to lead him to a world heavyweight champion belt.