Olympic Gold medalist, Tony Yoka (11-1) weighed in nearly ten pounds heavier compared to his last fight with Martin Bakole. Yoka weighed in at 251 pounds, with Carlos Takam (39-7-1) coming in at 259 and 1/4 pounds. Takam remaining around the same weight as usual, whereas Yoka comes in at a career heaviest weight.
Yoka has the clear height and reach advantage I n this bout, but experience lays in the hands on Takam. The 42 year old has shared the ring with the very best, but has struggled when stepping up to the elite level. Alexander Povetkin, Anthony Joshua, Derek Chisora and Joe Joyce have all knocked out the the Cameroon born Frenchman. The same will be expected from Yoka if he is going to be given any consideration at having a crack at a world title.
Yoka was tired, lacklustre, frustrated and poor in his last fight against Martin Bakole, however he never gave up in a fight where he just couldn’t get going and was battered all over the ring by Bakole. The skills are there, but it’s starting to look like Tony Yoka doesn’t really want it. Tomorrow we really find out. Yoka looked calm as usual as he showed off his physique on the scales, a very brief face-off with Takam leaves us set for tomorrow night.
On the undercard Thomas Faure (21-4) defend his EBU Light Heavyweight title against Dan Azeez (18-0). Azeez weighed in 11 ounces over the 175 pound limit, with Faure coming in very light at just 171.4 pounds. Azeez was given 2 hours to loose the excess weight, using a local gym to help the British and Commonwealth champion weigh it at 174.4 pounds on the second attempt.
A big British feel on the card in Paris. The show will be aired on Sky Sports with Lauren Price (2-0) taking on Naomi Mannes (6-1) and Macaulay McGowan (17-3-1) takes on Farad Saad (8-0-1). Other than Dan Azeez, all the fighters weighed in and head for battle in Paris tomorrow evening.