Saturday evening at Zenith de Paris sees BOXXER branch out to France, with 2016 Olympic Gold Medallist Tony Yoka looking to return to winning ways at the top of the bill in a ten round heavyweight assignment against respected former world title challenger, Carlos Takam.
Yoka vs Takam is live on Sky Sports in the UK and on ESPN+ in the USA.
After striking gold in Rio, Yoka (11-1, 9 KOs) had largely feasted on gatekeepers and faded contenders as a professional, and a match against Martin Bakole last May was expected to be another gradual step-up for the 30-year-old Parisian.
Bakole had other ideas though, and dominated their contest, dropping the home favourite twice and having ‘La Conquete’ hurt on several other occasions.
Somehow, this was only good enough for a majority decision win for Bakole, but thankfully, at least the right result was reached.
The comeback opponent selected for Yoka is Cameroon-born Frenchman, Takam (39-7-1, 28 KOs), who has given many heavyweights a tough test over the years, but is in the twilight of his long career.
The 42-year-old has been in with several decent operators, such as Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin, but is best known for giving Anthony Joshua a battle at short notice for the unified world titles in 2017, stopped in ten in Cardiff.
The Las Vegas resident was then knocked out by Dereck Chisora, and although he returned with four straight wins, Takam has lost his last two, halted in six by Joe Joyce in July 2021, and dropped twice in a points loss in his last outing last September against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Prediction: Yoka looked vulnerable in his loss to Bakole, and will certainly be given a good workout by Takam here. Yoka can come through widely on the cards though.
Azeez faces Faure
The undercard features Dan Azeez, and the British and Commonwealth light heavyweight champion looks to add the vacant European strap to his collection, as he takes on home fighter Thomas Faure.
Azeez (18-0, 12 KOs) has impressed in an unbeaten start to his career, and came to wider prominence at the back end of 2021, when he halted Hosea Burton in seven to win the vacant Lonsdale strap.
The Londoner has made two defences to date, the first a points win over Shakan Pitters, and his last, where he added the vacant Commonwealth crown in a dominant ninth round stoppage of former world champion, Rocky Fielding.
Faure (21-4-1, 2 KOs) isn’t a noted puncher, but is unbeaten in eight, the sole blemish a January 2021 draw with Kevin Thomas Cojean.
The 33-year-old rematched Cojean for the vacant EU belt in his last fight last January, and took a clear win on the cards.
Prediction: With the Frenchman not possessing power, I think he’ll struggle to keep the constant pressure that Azeez brings at bay. I think Azeez can become the new champion with a stoppage win before the halfway mark.
Remaining Undercard
2020 Olympic Gold Medallist, Lauren Price (2-0, 1 KO) features, and the welterweight will likely need the distance to take care of Naomi Mannes (6-1, 4 KOs), who took Kirstie Bavington ten rounds in her last contest.
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At super middleweight, home prospect Farrhad Saad (8-0-1) should come through on the scorecards against Macaulay McGowan (17-3-1, 3 KOs), who is durable, having lost three ten round decisions in a row from 2020 to 2022, and has rebounded with three wins over journeyman-type opposition.
