This heavyweight fight was first announced late last year and then canceled. Tony Yoka then confided, on a TV set, to be "very disappointed with Johann (Duhaupas)". The latter had declined in December to take care of his wife, about to give birth. "His business is: I did 10 rounds against Wilder ," Yoka said in the 13th round show on RMC Sports. But you never worried him, you took hits for 10 rounds. We respect the career you made, but who did you beat? You beat no one! "
Mehdi Ameur, the manager of Duhaupas, had given his version by scratching the 2016 Olympic champion without gloves: “No discussion had started… In fact, Yoka needs to fight Johann to restore his image. His opponents go to bed without being hit and I think it's visible on slow motion… But the problem is that people in France are afraid of the clash and especially of telling the truth. In any case, the day this fight takes place, Johann will knock out. Yoka. "
The location remains to be determined
The fight will therefore take place on September 25 in Paris, in a location that remains to be determined. And it is certain that the two boxers will not give each other gifts.
Tony Yoka, 28, French number 1 in the category which has 7 successes (including 6 by knockouts) in as many professional fights, clearly announced his “conquest” of the world title. Johann Duhaupas, 39, number 3, posted 38 wins (including 25 by KO) and 5 losses. One of them is remembered since it was against Deontay Wilder in 2015. Picard had held 10 and a half rounds in front of the American, WBC heavyweight world champion until February 2020.
The two French now have twelve rounds (a first for Yoka) to agree. Note that in the same evening there will be Estelle Yoka-Mossely, Olympic champion (-60 kg) in Rio, and Souleymane Cissokho, bronze at the same Games (-69 kg).