French heavyweight Tony Yoka was beaten on points by Carlos Takam on Saturday February 11 at the Zénith de Paris, suffering a second consecutive defeat after his loss against Martin Bakole ten months ago. The 2016 Olympic champion bowed on a split decision of the judges. At 30, Yoka now has eleven wins for two defeats and sees the rest of his professional career seriously compromised.
Tony Yoka (2.01m, 113.9kg) was playing big this saturday night at the Zenith in Paris. And it showed as soon as he entered the arena. On the way to the ring, the 30-year-old Frenchman had his face closed under his hood, eager to fight. An attitude that contrasted with that of his opponent, the Franco-Cameroonian, Carlos Takam (1.87m, 117.6 kilos), smiling and happy at 42 years old to be one of the main protagonists of a fight broadcast live at the French, American and English television.
Unable to reverse the trend
This difference in attitude was quickly transcribed in the ring with a cautious Tony Yoka facing Carlos Takam, undertaking in the center of the ring, trying to shorten the distance to compensate for his lack of reach. The former world champion dominated the fight, relying on his hooks capable of uprooting century-old oak trees in an intense fight until the 7th round.
Then, the two boxers lowered their foot, and Tony Yoka failed to reverse the trend. The Frenchman had promised to bounce back with a “ fierce fight and the former Olympic champion in Rio in 2016 suffered. Right arch open, his face scarred at the end of the evening, Yoka was unable to accelerate in the tenth and final round against Carlos Takam who continued to advance, head forward.
Doubts over Yoka’s career
This defeat of Tony Yoka by split decision comes only ten months after his setback against Congolese Martin Bakole. Doubts will now hover around the career of the native of Paris, who now has two defeats for eleven victories, despite Carlos Takam’s tribute at the end of the fight. ” Me, I believe in him. I worked harder than during my fight against Anthony Joshua, because I knew who I was up against. Frankly, put up with Tony. I’m a fan of Tony, he’s a champion “, launched the one who designates himself as a “ old lion “.
For his part, the tricolor boxer promised to want ” go back and work some more to hope to relaunch a career that already has lead in the wing.