Tony Yoka, who remains on a defeat on points against the Congolese Martin Bakole on May 14, will return to the ring on March 11.
The Olympic heavyweight champion in Rio will face Carlo Takam in Paris when his entourage thought he was seeing him evolve for the first time in the United States where he trains.
A shock that will make sparks given the sacred pedigree of Takam (47 fights, 39 wins, 7 defeats and a draw), slightly favorite of this shock.
The two men were to do battle for the first time in January 2022 but the shock had been canceled due to an injury to the native of Douala.
The Franco-Cameroonian has already challenged big names in the queen category and in particular Anthony Joshua.
At the end of 2017, Takam even delivered a heroic match against the Briton in front of 70,000 spectators in Cardiff to lose in the 10th round.
The referee ended the fight with a technical knockout.
An incomprehensible decision in the eyes of many specialists who had provoked boos from the public seduced by the Homeric defense of the valiant Takam.
Carlos Takam against Anthony Joshua in 2017. Panoramic
Takam (1.87 m and 112.4 kg) had rubbed shoulders with another heavyweight cador, more recently, against Joe Joyce, a boxer who has his place in the World Top 10.
The Briton (who had been beaten by Yoka in the final of the Rio Olympics) had suffered the law of his opponent in the first five rounds before a reversal of the situation in the sixth round, surprised by a left hook then a devastating right.
You will have to be strong, people expect that from me, come back with panache, with a big fight and show that the fight against Bakole was a mistake
Tony Yoka
These two reference fights, the Yoka clan will be able to dissect them until the shock between the two men in Paris.
With an opposition of styles and profiles in sight since Yoka (11 wins and 1 defeat) will have the advantage of having a higher reach (2.01 m against 1.87 m).
A purely theoretical advantage on paper against a 42-year-old opponent.
“
We know boxing and especially the heavyweight category, it is a late-maturing category, (…) it is from the age of 30 that you start to become strong.
He's experienced, he fought Joshua a few years ago, Joe Joyce last year, he just boxed Makhmudov, he's someone who is still in the circuit
," explained Yoka before adding: "
You will have to be tough, people expect that from me, come back with panache, with a big fight and show that the fight against Bakole was a mistake.
»
Yoka was very marked by the defeat against Bakole
In what dispositions will the French champion present himself, very marked psychologically by his setback against Bakole, the first among professionals?
“
He has the physical qualities.
An innate ability to be an elite heavyweight.
And he has, or so I thought, this desire to be the best.
Today on this last point, I am no longer certain.
Tony has talent, but does he have this absolute desire to be champion?
“, had recently wondered Bob Arum, famous promoter pointing the finger in The Team the poor preparation of the Olympic champion.
Read alsoBoxing: "Tony has talent, but does he have this absolute desire to be champion?", Famous promoter Bob Arum doubts Yoka's motivation
“
After the defeat (against Martin Bakole) I wanted to take some time for myself.
I tried to think about what was, what hadn't been.
(...) I really wanted that the day I speak publicly again, I come back with something on the table.
He is a very serious opponent, Carlos Takam, we will say that he is a gateway to the world top 10.
He's a very strong opponent, in terms of ranking and level, he's potentially the strongest I've faced
, ”warns the French champion who hopes to play three fights this year.
At 30, time is running out to achieve the conquest of the world belt of the ultimate category in boxing.
