IBF #8, WBC #13 heavyweight Tony Yoka (10-0, 8 KOs) scored a twelfth round TKO over Joel Tambwe Djeko (17-3-1, 8 KOs) to claim the vacant European Union title on Friday night at H Arena in Nantes, France. Yoka, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, was in command the whole way and got the stoppage when Djeko turned his back after a barrage of punches in the final stanza.
Undefeated middleweight prospect Farrhad “Fel Fel The Professor” Saad (8-0-1, 0 KOs) outpointed Borislav “The Egg” Ivanov (9-2, 5 KOs) in an eight-rounder.
Female lightweight Estelle Yoka Mossely (9-0, 1 KO) outpointed Verena Kaiser (14-2, 6 KOs) over ten one-sided rounds. Mossley, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, is married to heavyweight contender Tony Yoka.
Keep an eye out on Tony Yoka. This young heavyweight has impressive stamina and decent power and he throws his punches good. Not wild or anything but he knows how to pick apart his opponents. A few of today’s heavyweights will avoid Yoka for sure.
Not sure I agree. Yoka seems a bit hype at this point. Not great on power and chin nor technique. Has good cardio, give you that.
You have a point, yes it’s too early but I’d say in the next 2-3 fights we will see more positive things with this young man.
James: Agree, other than showing good stamina, Yoka looks very ordinary.
I’m not sold on Yoka just yet either but he does show some potential, I would like to see him in with like a Carlos Takam next.
Good win for Yoka. At 6’7, he already seems more skilled than Wilder, Fury, and Joshua, and has the potential to be far better. He just to needs to continue to develop his power and technique, become more skilled in not being so predictable in his punching combinations, develop more combinations including unorthodox variations, and stay dedicated to his craft. The heavyweight division is in dire need of real talent, so I wish him well going forward.
Still think Joyce beat Yoka at the 2016 Olympics. And will beat him again as a pro.
I wouldn’t bet on Joyce beating Yoka. Would be an interesting fight, but Yoka is a tad taller, has a slightly longer reach, and is quicker than Joyce. Yoka fights pretty well at long range, and that will be a problem for the sloth-like Joyce. When Dominic Breazeale retires, Joyce will take over as the slowest man in the sport.
Joel Tambwe Djeko appears to be a cruiser weight? hmmmmmmm
Not his best fight because of what happend at the weigh-in when Djeko slapped Yoka. Yoka was in search of a knockout who didn’t come, but don’t be fooled by this fight and trust me he will be champ in 2 or 3 years because he’s skilled, very fast for a heavyweight and can take a punch he proved it yesterday. He lacks a bit one punch ko power but his speed will do it still. Mark my words…
Régis: Recon there is going to be a lot of not his best fights for Yoka, just my opinion. He will fold against the real heavyweights. But, let’s see, anything can happen. Let’s check about 2 years from now and we refer back to this conversation.
Yoka is the Heavyweight version of Kell Brook. Good enough to compete and give a good fight maybe even win a belt once they are separated after the unification between Fury and AJ. Like Brook Yoka will probably lose to the very best in the division.
Yoka has potential for sure, but I feel like he should do a couple more trial horses prior to fighting a top 15 guy. I would enjoy a matchup with Joyce, but the version that beat up Dubois would probably be too much for Yoka at this point.
Btw, the whole time I was watching this fight I found myself hoping Wilder gets himself together and back in the mix. I couldn’t help thinking that a focused Wilder would crush Yoka. I know, I just said I felt he needed more development, so is it fair to say he would get smashed by the most dangerous puncher in the Division?