He came down from the ring with tears in his eyes, sad and dejected, this Friday night in Paris - La Défense Arena.
Drunk too quickly by the power of Tony Yoka's blows.
KO standing, desperate: Johann Duhaupas had imagined all possible scenarios before facing the Olympic champion in what was the most anticipated Franco-French duel of recent years.
Supported by a large part of the 5000 spectators, “The Reptile” thought to push his young rival to his limits for this “12 rounds” which was to be one of the last fights of his brilliant but too anonymous career.
Did the referee stop too early?
But Johann Duhaupas only lasted a minute and a half, stopped by the referee when the fight had just started.
On a first strike from Yoka, he dropped to one knee and then a second a few seconds later.
It was one too many.
“I got picked up cold by wanting to play the length.
Yoka accelerated and I was surprised.
I guarantee you however that I am far from being knocked out.
I was up very quickly and I could continue, ”regretted the Abbevillois after the rapid assault, too fast.
The victory by KO of @TonyYoka in the first round against Johann Duhaupas for act 8 of #LaConquete!
🏆🥊 # YokaDuhaupas pic.twitter.com/QaR4LTV6FX
- CANAL + Boxe (@CanalplusBoxe) September 25, 2020
Did the referee stop the bout too soon?
At ringside, it was the hot impression.
On TV, the images are more terrible for the unfortunate man who is really staggering.
"I do not know, however, why the referee stops," said the French again.
I get up right away, it shows, right?
But the decision has already been made.
And it's too late.
"I want to resume a normal and active life"
A boxer highly respected by his community, endearing by his personality but too little known by the general public during his 20-year career, Duhaupas was in the spotlight for the first time in recent days.
Already 39 years old.
These spotlights, Yoka attracts them and those who challenge him benefit from them.
But for Duhaupas (44 fights, 38 wins, 7 losses), the shadow re-enveloped him as quickly as it left.
“This is the first time that I take such a quick knockout, he notes bitterly.
It hurts the morale of a guy like me who always wanted to show he was tough.
I am touched in my heart, touched in my soul.
This is the worst ending I could hope for.
I had never had a nightmare about that one, never… ”
"I think it's the end"
A failure from which he will have difficulty recovering when he had confessed the day before that he had never prepared for a fight so well.
"I think it's the end," sighs the former turner in a plastics factory.
I'm going to talk about it with my teams because here I'm reacting hot.
But I really think I've had my time.
You have to know when to stop when the moment is right.
I will now take care of my family.
I want to resume a normal and active life.
"
The evening of Friday was therefore like a transfer of power at the top of the hierarchy of heavyweights in France.
Tony Yoka has defeated the courageous old lion and no offense to his detractors, the Olympic champion has shown that he is a very good boxer and the boss in France.
Now he has to show it to the whole world and he will have the support of his hapless opponent for it.
After looking for each other for a long time on social networks, the two men fell into each other's arms, proof of unfeigned respect.
“Tony showed against a former world challenger, me in this case, that he was effective.
I wish him good luck for the future.
I wish him to be world champion because despite everything we have been able to say to each other, the attachment between us is real ”, ended the defeated, gone to drown his sorrow among his family.
