In a crossroads fight, former WBA cruiserweight champion Ryad Merhy (32-2, 26 KOs) hammered out a ten round unanimous decision over 2016 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Tony Yoka (11-3, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France. The 6’7 Yoka tried to keep the fight at a distance with his jab against Merhy, who is listed at 5’11. Merhy was the aggressor and was able to get inside at times to land big punches. Yoka’s punch output diminished as the fight progressed with Merhy pulling away 96-94 3x. Three straight losses for Yoka, while Merhy gets back into the mix after a loss to Kevin Lerena.
Wow, Yoka has declined even more than most anyone thought. Is it medical, mental, physical, emotional, pharmaceutical,????
Lool pharmaceutical….lol that’s it
Most likely discipline. He can’t fight 10 hard rounds or even 10 mediocre rounds. He’s got tools a d talent but clearly lacks championship heart.
He hasn’t really declined. He was never really that good.
Yoka is over!
Not surprised. My dad and I believe that Yoka is soft. He is weak.
If he doesn’t call it a day, it’s gatekeeper duty for the rest of Yoka’s career. I heard that his ex-wife was headed back to the Olympics, maybe he should consider it.
Oh Lucie allways some good and productive comments you are really the GOAT of the comment section ; thank you for not hating…
You are entirely too kind, Regis; but thank you.
Wasn’t YOKA the next great Hype just recently?
Yes, same with David Price
If Merhy had been more active against Lerena he would have won in my view. He just didn’t let his hands go enough that night. Solid fighter,
Audley Yoka….
Remember Audley was 36 when he won the gold medal.He was a very late starter……….
I do, but where do you see Tony Yoka in, let’s say 2-3 years? Seems he lost all his self consciousness. 3 losses in a row. So imo the comparison with Audley Harrison as another Olympic champion driving on the Boulevard of broken dreams is legit.
I believe Audley was 29 when he won the Olympics. Still a late starter though. At that time the cutoff age for an amateur boxer was 32.
Yoka should retire
Disapointed by Yoka but so proud of my country because the fight was so close if Yoka was from these country and boxing at home he would’ve win easily from worst to even more worst lol : USA, England and Germany but not in m’y country all three judges saw the fight like me 96-94; no bribes in boxing in France..
Agree at least the judges in our country are loyal to determine the one who won
So was it Bakole that knocked the stuffings out of Yoka and then Takam did the same. 31, gold medalist Olympic champion and his career looks done, not good.