“
Today Martin was stronger, I think everyone could see that
”.
As soon as his first defeat among the pros was endorsed by the judges (96-92, 95-93, 94-94), Tony Yoka did not hide behind his little finger and recognized the superiority of his opponent, the Congolese Martin Bakole , Saturday night at Bercy.
Between whistles and applause from an inevitably disappointed Accor Arena, the Rio Olympic champion (2016) bore the marks of the assault suffered for ten rounds.
Read alsoBoxing: outclassed by the Congolese Bakole at Bercy, Tony Yoka falls from very high
“
Frankly, he is strong
, had warned this week the Frenchman, who displayed sixteen kilos less on the scale on the eve of the fight (109.6 kg against 125.6).
He is an opponent who will give me a hard time and we will have to be wary of him until the end
.
Put in difficulty from the first gong, Yoka was bludgeoned, in the head and on the flanks, by the devastating left hooks of the Congolese who quickly sent him to the ground in the first round before opening his face in the 3rd.
Shaken by the battering of his opponent in the liver, the Parisian fell again in the 5th recovery after twisting his ankle.
With courage, it will go until the final gong.
Without ever managing to return even half of the blows received.