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Boxing: Yoka will face Bakole in Paris on May 14

2022-02-08T18:28:26.967Z


The French heavyweight, 29, will face the Congolese Martin Bakole, 28, eighteen fights, 13 wins by KO, only one defeat.


Tony Yoka will put on the gloves against the Congolese Martin Bakole for his 12th professional fight, on May 14 at the Accor Arena, his broadcaster Canal+ announced on Tuesday.

The 2016 Olympic champion was originally to be opposed to Bakole on January 15 at Bercy but the meeting had been postponed due to the return of the gauges linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.

After this setback, Yoka, undefeated in 11 outings - 9 successes before the limit - agreed to challenge Croatian Filip Hrgovic in an IBF world semi-final, but the body finally considered that Yoka remained committed to a fight against Bakole.

I had a chance for a fight that I've been waiting for years but thanks to you we're still going to have to wait.



May 14 will be personal, Bakole pic.twitter.com/DnucOLRZWx

— Tony YOKA (@TonyYoka) February 8, 2022

“We didn't want to miss this chance to become the official challenger for the next winner of the fight between Alexander Usyk and Anthony Joshua but the Bakole clan came to the IBF saying that they had a valid contract for confront Tony.

The rule of the IBF is simple: if a boxer is already engaged in another fight or injured, he is considered unavailable, ”explained to AFP Jérôme Abiteboul, the promoter of the French.

Bakole will still be a very good test for Yoka, who has not fought since September 10 - a victory against the Croatian Peter Milas by KO in the 7th round - and aims to one day become world champion of the queen category .

The Congolese is ranked 18th by benchmark site boxrec - Yoka is 19th - and has only lost once in 18 ring appearances - 13 wins by knockout.

"He's a world-class opponent, who finally corresponds to the plan that should lead Tony to a world final," said Jérôme Abiteboul.

This will take us to a 13th fight, certainly a world semi-final.

We are still on schedule.”

Bercy will also be the scene of the great professional debut of French lightweight Sofiane Oumiha.

The 2016 Olympic silver medalist, double amateur world champion but returned empty-handed from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, will have to do battle with his compatriot Mevy Boufoudi.

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2022-02-08

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