Tony Yoka vs Carlos Takam – Results & Post-Fight Report

Boxxer branched out to France for a co-promotion, and in the main event at Zenith de Paris- La Villette, Tony Yoka was out-hustled in a flat performance that allowed former world title challenger Carlos Takam to take a ten round split decision win in their heavyweight attraction.

2016 Olympic Gold medallist Yoka came into this one off the back of a devastating first pro defeat last May, where Martin Bakole dropped him twice en route to a majority decision win that was a lot wider than the dismal cards suggested. Takam was a solid choice of return opponent, and he had previously challenged Anthony Joshua for the unified heavyweight world titles in Cardiff back in 2017.

Yoka (11-2, KO9) made a busy start here, but Takam was keen to test his opponent, rushing in at regular intervals. Takam (40-7-1, KO28) was growing in confidence by the third, and he was prepared to take risks, bulldozing his way in and landing with meaty shots. Yoka looked flat, and was struggling to put something meaningful together, with a safety first, fragile approach being adopted. Takam was starting to sense the fragility of Yoka, with a couple of stiff right hands hitting the mark in the sixth, and he upped the ante further in round seven, although Yoka did actually begin to fire back.

Yoka looked subdued and out of ideas as the fight went to the final frame, and the rolling of the dice just wasn’t forthcoming from him, and as the bout went to the cards, only the judges could possibly save him from a second straight defeat.

Although Takam dominated, it was only good enough for a split verdict, but thankfully the right result was reached, with Takam taking two verdicts of 96-94 against the same for Yoka.

Dan Azeez (19-0, KO13) added the vacant European light heavyweight title to his burgeoning collection, as he stopped Thomas Faure (21-5-1, KO2) in the twelfth and final round.

A big right hand jarred Faure’s legs in round six, but Azeez couldn’t finish the job in that session as much as he tried. The home fighter was as tough as old boots, despite being on the end of several spiteful shots, but his resistance was finally broken in the last round, as another thundering right hand found the mark, and froze Faure momentarily, and the referee timed his stoppage superbly.

Olympic Gold medallist Lauren Price (3-0, KO1) went eight rounds for the first time in her professional career, as she outscored Naomi Mannes (6-2, KO4) in their welterweight contest. Price won all eight rounds on the scorecards.

Macaulay McGowan (17-3-2, KO3) can feel a little more than aggrieved in only coming away from his eight rounder at super middleweight against Farad Saad (8-0-2, KO0) with a majority draw. McGowan outboxed Saad for most of the contest, but somehow, wasn’t even given a win by any of the judges. A tally of 77-75 for Saad was overruled by two scorecards of 76-76 that made the fight a stalemate.

Victor Yoka (2-0, KO1) claimed his second win as a pro, taking a unanimous decision over six at super welterweight against Bratislava Malinovic (15-8-2, KO6), and Lyad Tormos (5-0, KO0) remained unbeaten, defeating Goga Kevlishvili (6-13-1, KO1) over four at welterweight.