By Ken Hissner: At Zenith de Paris-La Villette Paris XlX, Paris, France over ESPN+ Saturday in the Main Event Olympic Gold Medalist Tony “La Conquete” Yoka lost by split decision to Carlos Takam in a fight that wasn’t close with Takam dominating for the most part.
In the co-feature, EBU Union Light Heavyweight champion Thomas Faure was stopped in the final round by unbeaten “Super” Dan Azeez for the vacant EBU Light Heavyweight title.
In the Main Event, Olympic Gold Medalist Tony “La Conquete” Yoka, 11-2 (9), #251, of Paris, FR, lost by a split decision to Carlos Takam, 40-7-1 (28), #249 ½, of Cameroon and Paris, FR over ten rounds.
In the first three rounds, Takam pressed Yoka outworking him, landing overhand rights to the head and backing up Yoka. In the fourth round, taller Yoka was clinching from the assault from Takam, who continued landing overhand rights throughout the round.
In the fifth round, Yoka suffered a cut on his left eyelid in the final minute of the round. Thirty seconds into the sixth round, Yoka got in his best punch so far, a right on the chin of Takam getting his attention.
In the final minute, Takam continued controlling landing left hooks to the chin of Yoka. In the seventh round’s final seconds, Takam landed a solid right to the chin of Yoka, but it was Takam’s mouthpiece that came out. Yoka had his moments prior to that in the final minute.
In the eighth round, Takam was chasing Yoka, catching him with left hooks and overhand rights when he was able to catch up to him. In the ninth round, Takam continued the pressure on Yoka, taking another round.
From the corner, prior to the start of the round, Yoka’s trainer Virgil Hill said it was the ninth round. In the tenth and final round, Yoka went to throw a left hook, but Takam beat him to the punch with a right on the chin. The 42-year-old Takam was the fresher in the end.
The scores were 96-94 twice for Takam and 96-94 for Yoka, with this writer 100-90 for Takam.
In the co-feature, EBU Union Light Heavy champ Thomas Faure, 21-5-1 (2), #171 ½, of Chateauroux, Indre, FR, was stopped by “Super” Dan Azeez, 19-0 (13), #174 ½, of Lewisham, London, UK, for the vacant EBU Light heavyweight title in the 12th and final round.
In the first five rounds, Faure would switch back and forth from southpaw to orthodox and countering the ever-oncoming Azeez, who outworked the gutsy Faure.
In the sixth round, Faure suffered a cut on his right eyebrow, and his nose started bleeding. In the seventh round, Faure continued switching from southpaw to orthodox, countering Dan Azeez, who outworks him.
In the eighth round, it was Faure having Azeez pinned in a corner though bleeding from the eyebrow and mouth. In the tenth round, Faure fought back well, standing his ground and not allowing Azeez to back him up.
In the eleventh round, it was all Azeez who had Faure hurt in the final seconds of the round, driving him into the ropes at the bell and having both of Faure’s eyebrows with cuts. In the twelfth and final round, a terrific right from Azeez on the chin had Faure out on his feet when the Referee called a halt holding Faure up.
Super Middle Farrhad “Fel Fel the Professor” Saad, 8-0-2 (0), #166 ¼, of Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, was robbed in a majority draw with Macaulay McGowan, 17-3-2 (3), #166 ½, of Whythenshawe, Lancashire, UK, over eight rounds.
In the seventh round, McGowan was hurt in the final seconds. In the eighth and final round, it was all Saad having the right eyelid of McGowan cut and holding on.
The scores were 77-75 Saad and 76-76 twice.
Welter 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist southpaw Lauren Price, 3-0 (1), #147, of Ystrad, Mynach, Wales, UK, defeated Naomi Mannes, 6-2 (4), #146 ½, of Frankfurt, Hessen, GER, over 8×2 rounds.
In the first round, Price controlled the action pressing Mannes throughout the round. In the second round, Price continued outworking Mannes.
In the last thirty seconds, Mannes landed a solid right on the chin of Price. In the third and fourth rounds, Price continued chasing Mannes down and out-landing her.
In the fifth through the seventh rounds, both had their moments, while Price had the edge.
In the eighth and final rounds, both let it all hang out, with Price finishing the stronger of the two. Mannes’ face was quite marked up at the end.
The scores were all 80-72, as was this writers.