We expected a fight against the Croatian Petar Milas for a European belt.
It was even announced by the EBU, the federation in charge of the championship.
This fight will undoubtedly take place, perhaps even before the end of the year.
But it will not be the next French heavyweight, today ranked 17th in the world according to the benchmark ranking of the BoxRec site.
Tony Yoka will finally face the German Christian Hammer.
For his ninth professional fight on November 27 in Nantes.
Also according to BoxRec, Hammer - it means hammer in English, perhaps a sign of his power - is ranked 37th heavyweight in the world.
In his career, the German has already faced the Englishman Tyson Fury, the current world number 1.
It was in 2015 before Yoka turned pro and he lost by retirement.
Christian Hammer (33) has 31 professional fights to his credit (25 wins, six losses).
He is already an old acquaintance for the French Olympic champion.
The two men should have clashed last December in Paris at the AccorHotels Arena.
But the fight had been postponed due to a shoulder injury of the German boxer long before there was any talk of Covid-19.
Next fight on November 27.
Despite the confinement, the conquest did not stop.
It will therefore be the German Christian Hammer for my 9th fight with the pros.
pic.twitter.com/5Qhakentk5
- Tony YOKA (@TonyYoka) November 4, 2020
Tony Yoka, who had promised to get back in the ring very quickly after his victory against Johann Duhaupas in September, will also find Nantes, in the H Arena, a city he knows well.
He had beaten another German Michael Wallisch by stopping the referee from the 3rd round on September 28, 2019. The fight in 10 rounds will be broadcast on Friday November 27 live on Canal +.
But it will take place in an empty room and behind closed doors due to the confinement.
