Tony Yoka vs Martin Bakole Preview

By JB Boxing

Yoka faces Bakole in Contender Heavyweight Clash

French Olympic champion Tony Yoka will take on UK based Martin Bakole in Paris on May 14th. Originally set for January, the fight was pushed back due to Covid crowd regulations in France. Yoka was contractually forced into the fight after unsuccessfully plotting an IBF Eliminator against Filip Hrgovic. 

The 30-year-old Parisian will be hoping to extend his unbeaten record to 12 wins in the pro ranks. Yoka, a highly decorated amateur, won gold at the World Championships in 2015 and then controversially pipped Joe Joyce to gold in the Rio Olympics the following year. His pro career up to now has not yet lived up to the hype of these conquers. A short suspension due to missed drug tests slightly marred the start of his time in the professional division. However, in 2021 he became the European champion with a stoppage victory. His most notable wins are over former world level gatekeepers Christian Hammer and countryman Johann Duhaupas. Impressively stopping the latter in the first round. Bakole should prove a more competitive and willing opponent. 

Raised in a village in Congo, and now residing in Airdrie, Scotland, Bakole lacks the amateur credentials of Yoka. Competing only 17 times in his homeland before turning professional. After 5 victories, he then moved over to the UK and hooked up with trainer Billy Nelson. Picking up momentum after this move, he’s been used as a sparring partner often for Anthony Joshua and recently Tyson Fury. First stepping up against US prospect at the time Michael Hunter, he was unsuccessful. Hunter used his speed and superior boxing skills to outbox and then stop Bakole. His best win is over Russian Sergey Kuzmin on the AJ v Pulev card. A stop start career due to injuries and fleeting between the UK and his homeland, he only appeared once in 2021. Beating Yoka would propel his career onto facing off for world honours.

Favourite to tame the underdog

Yoka is the favourite in this contest, technically astounding and the taller man by a couple of inches. Bakole,though, is no stranger to facing a taller man, he stopped the usually durable Mariuz Wach in 2019. Despite the difference in height, Bakole may be the stronger of the two. He will rely on this strength to make a dent in Yoka early. Yoka will try to set a high pace and get into a rhythm to show his superior skills to the home crowd. The judges are unlikely to be needed in this fight as both men possess a high KO ratio. Either way, it is difficult to see anything other than a Yoka victory. Bakole will prove a highly competitive match up, as the excitement builds in France to see their Golden Boy return.