The Frenchman Tony Yoka and the German Agit Kabayel will compete for the European heavyweight title, abandoned by the Englishman Joe Joyce: such is the decision of the EBU, the European Bocing Union.
The opening of scholarship offers is scheduled for May 16.
"Since this [Monday] morning, I have been in negotiations with the German Ulf Steinforth, promoter of Kabayel, to organize the championship in France", confided to L'Equipe Jerôme Abiteboul, promoter of the French.
Professional since 2011, Kabayel (29 years old, 1.91m, 21 wins, including 13 before the limit, 0 defeat) has not contested a fight since his victory over the American Kevin Johnson on June 5, 2021. Ranked at the level world (7th by the IBF, 12th by the WBC, 13th by the WBO), he won four European championships from 2017 to 2019, before giving up his title.
Unlike Yoka, he only had a brief amateur career as he came from kickboxing.
In December 2020, in London, he should have faced Tyson Fury in the WBC championship, before the latter finally chose not to box.
Yoka (30 years old, 2.01m, 11 wins, including 9 before the limit, 0 defeat), who will start as the favorite against the German, will previously challenge the Congolese Martin Bakole, on May 14 at the Accor Arena, in Paris.