By Craig Daly: 2016 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Tony Yoka will face former world title challenger Carlos Takam on March 11th in Paris, France.
Battling the 42-year-old Takam (39-7-1, 28 KOs) is a big step down for Yoka and a clear sign of concerns about whether he will pan out in the pro ranks after six years.
With how Yoka performed against Bakole, you’d have to say that his fight with Takam is a toss-up. Yoka’s chin might not be able to hold up under the heavy shots from Takam in the early going. However, if Yoka can drag past his prime Takam into the later rounds, it increases his chances of winning.
WHAT TIME IS YOKA vs TAKAM?
- Date: Saturday, March 11th
- Main card: 8 p.m. GMT / 3 p.m. ET
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 11 p.m. GMT / 6 p.m. ET
- The fight will take place at the Zenith de Paris-La Villette, Paris XIX, Paris, France
- Sky Sports will broadcast the fight in the UK, while the fight will be available to stream live on ESPN+ in the U.S.
- The main card is set to get underway at 8 p.m. GMT / 3 p.m. ET with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 11 p.m. GMT / 6 p.m. ET.
Given Yoka’s Olympic gold medal pedigree, he should be far more advanced in his career than he is, but he hasn’t shown the type of talent that would suggest he can hang with top-tier talent.
Looking back at Yoka’s highly questionable win over Joe Joyce in the 2016 Olympic final, it’s not surprising that he’s already faltering in the pro ranks without having fought super-quality opposition.
Joyce got the better of Yoka in their fight, appearing to win every round yet losing on the scorecards. Looking back at that contest, you wonder what the judges thought when they gave Yoka the win.
The 30-year-old Yoka (11-1, 9 KOs) is coming off a crushing 10 round majority decision loss to contender Martin Bakole last May in Paris. Bakole knocked the 6’6″ Yoka down twice, dropping him in the first and fifth.
https://youtu.be/dVqG8mvAtAM?t=7
Although Yoka rallied to make it close at the end, he still lost by the scores 96-92, 95-93, and 94-94.
Losing to Takam would be a clear sign that Yoka needs to pack it in and retire because he doesn’t seem cut out for the professional ranks. If Yoka can’t beat the likes of Takam & Bakole, he’s not going anywhere in the sport.
If Yoka is getting paid good coin to fight obscure opposition in Paris, you can understand why he would keep plugging along if he loses to Takam on March 11th.
Takam is coming off of back-to-back losses to Arslanbek Makhmudov and Joe Joyce. His last victory was in 2020 against journeyman Jerry Forrest.
Takam’s career hasn’t been the same since losing to then IBF, IBO & WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in October 2017 in Cardiff. He was brought in as a minute replacement opponent after Kubra Pulev suffered an arm injury.
YOKA VS. TAKAM FIGHT CARD
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Tony Yoka (113.9 kgs / 17st 9 lbs) vs Carlos Takam (117.6 kgs / 18st 5 lbs)
Heavyweight Bout (10R)
Dan Azeez (79.1 kgs / 12st 5 lbs) vs Thomas Faure (77.7 kgs / 12st 2 lbs)
EBU European Light-Heavyweight Title Bout (12R)
Lauren Price (66.7 kgs / 10st 5 lbs) vs Naomi Mannes (66.4 kgs / 10st 5 lbs)
Welterweight Bout (8R)
Farrhad Saad (75.4 kgs / 11st 9 lbs) vs Macaulay McGowan (75.5 kgs 11st 9 lbs)
Middleweight Bout (8R)