Boxing: Why Tony Yoka's conquest is still held back

Tony Yoka announced it himself on February 21 on his twitter feed: "It's time to write a new page in my career, it will now be on two continents. My next fight is scheduled for March 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. He thrilled with excitement, even promising to offer the trip to a few fans. This fight will ultimately not take place and the coronavirus has nothing to do with it.

It is time to write a new page of my career, it will now be on two continents. My next fight is scheduled for March 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. As promised Two trips will be won very soon stay connected. 🙏🏽🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/rWpJAtjToW

This time, again, Tony Yoka announced it himself on social networks, Sunday evening: “March 14th fight canceled. Sorry for those who had planned to make the trip and those who were waiting for my return to the ring. This decision does not come from me, as for the fight in December I am ready and I expect only one thing is to get into the ring, "he posted on Twitter.

March 14 fight canceled. Sorry for those who had planned to make the trip and those who were waiting for my return to the ring. This decision does not come from me, as for the fight in December I am ready and I expect only one thing is to get into the ring. pic.twitter.com/kjs6q5wpt1

What happened ? Tony Yoka rejects his American dream for lack of an opponent. In New York, the Olympic heavyweight champion had to box in the theater of Madison Square Garden, the small hall of 5000 seats which adjoins the legendary enclosure of 5th Avenue.

He had however found an adversary

"He has an opponent, but it's up to his promoter to announce it," a close friend told us last week. He is ranked lower than Tony (41st) in the world ranking, that's all I can tell you. We do not know who this opponent was who gave up, it seems, because of insufficient funds. To face Yoka, no one takes the risk of less than 100,000 dollars (87,500 euros) per fight.

For those who ask me and ask the question about the opponent, know that I have known him for several weeks but it is at Top Rank to announce it not to me so dsl I can not tell you more 🤷🏽‍♂️

For the first time, the Frenchman (7 fights, 7 victories) was not scheduled for the main event, the main fight of the evening. His new promoter had found him a place in the poster of the clash between the American Shakur Stevenson, the Olympic silver medalist at the Rio Games of -56kg and the Colombian Miguel Marriaga. A story for the Parisian, who is constantly criticized by social networks for highlighting himself, for shaking hands in the United States without being too exposed.

Its new promoter is Bob Arum

Its new promoter is a legend in boxing business: Bob Arum, the promoter of Mohamed Ali. Tony Yoka has recently joined his “Top Rank” stable, thus abandoning Richard Schaefer who has followed him since his professional beginnings in 2017.

"Tony is not doing enough fights," said the close friend. If he wants to continue to rise in the hierarchy, he must go more often in the ring and he has not had this opportunity lately. His last two fights in July in Antibes and in September in Nantes, he won them three times each time. It was cool enough to follow quickly. He did not have the opportunity. Too bad. His entourage wants him to get on the ring five times in 2020.

His fight in December 2019 already canceled

In December, Yoka was already to invest in the AccorHotels Arena in Paris to face the German Christian Hammer. Wounded, he had given up once again slowing down the conquest of the Frenchman who, since June 2017 and the start of his one-year suspension for three no-shows, has boxed only twice three rounds, barely the half of a full fight.

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It is very little for a boy who dreams of a world title especially since during this time, the competition does not wait for him. Joshua, Fury, Wilder fight and advance. Yoka waits and chews on his brake, again ...