Tony Yoka vs. Martin Bakole - May 14, 2022

[Ruthless-RKO]

They can sell the fight more now. It’s personal.

Euro BEEF!!

[JamesPhilips]

They can sell the fight more now. It’s personal.

Euro BEEF!!

Das rite!

[margaret thatcher]

bakole wouldnt let me fight hrgovic

one of the weaker beef angles

[Ruthless-RKO]

bakole wouldnt let me fight hrgovic

one of the weaker beef angles

His DREAM fight might I add.

The press conference gonna be lit now!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Tony Yoka says May 14 fight with Martin Bakole 'personal' after contract dispute

Tony Yoka, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist at super heavyweight, will fight Martin Bakole rather than Filip Hrgovic following a contract dispute.

Yoka announced on social media Tuesday that he'll fight Bakole on May 14 in Paris. Yoka is co-promoted by Top Rank, ensuring the fight will be streamed stateside on ESPN+.

Yoka (11-0, 9 KOs) was set to fight Bakole in a step-up bout on Jan. 15 in Paris, but the bout was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Yoka then accepted an IBF heavyweight title eliminator with Hrgovic, a rematch of the Olympic semifinal, but Bakole's team protested.

Bakole's manager and trainer, Billy Nelson, told ESPN that their contract stipulated that Yoka's French promoter, AllStar Boxing president Jerome Abiteboul, will decide in writing if the fight is cancelled or postponed. Abiteboul wrote that the fight would be rescheduled for March 5 or March 12, whichever date worked best for French network Canal+, according to Nelson.

Bakole's legal team sent letters to the IBF, petitioning the organization to rule that Yoka is unavailable to participate in the Hrgovic bout due to its guidelines prohibiting contracted boxers from taking part in other IBF sanctioned fights.

The IBF ruled in favor of Bakole, meaning Yoka will have to wait for the higher-profile fight.

"I had a chance for a fight I've been waiting for years, but thanks to [Bakole], we'll have to wait again," Yoka wrote, referring to the Hrgovic matchup. "May 14, it's going to be personal."

Bakole (17-1, 13 KOs) has reeled off six consecutive wins since a 10th-round TKO loss to heavyweight contender Michael Hunter in 2018. Most notably, Bakole, 28, scored a unanimous decision victory over Sergey Kuzmin in December 2020.

A native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bakole was splitting time between Scotland and his homeland over the past few years before relocating to the U.K., full-time in October. His brother is cruiserweight titleholder Ilunga Makabu.

"Martin is looking forward to doing a number on Yoka," Nelson said, "and show the world he's going to be a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Sofiane Oumiha To Make Pro Debut on Yoka vs. Bakole Card

As Boxing Scene previously reported, the heavyweight fight between Tony Yoka (11-0) and Martin Bakole (17-1) is now on for May 14 at the Accor Arena in Paris, France.

Yoka-Bakole was first set for January 15 but had to be postponed due to Covid-19.

On the undercard lightweight Sofiane Oumiha will finally make his pro debut. Oumiha won Silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics. His debut was set to go ahead on a Queensberry Poland promotion last year but never materialized.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Victor Yoka is fighting on the undercard..

I can only assume that it Tony's brother?

[jameswilson]

Victor Yoka is fighting on the undercard..

I can only assume that it Tony's brother?

It’s his other brother ‘double’ who you wanna watch. All the egg puns come out when he’s boxing.

[My T Sharp]

Is he as good as Dillian Whyte?

[Ruthless-RKO]

This weekend!

[maverick23]

This weekend!

I’d completely forgotten about this one. Any U.K. TV?

[Ruthless-RKO]

This weekend!

I’d completely forgotten about this one. Any U.K. TV?

I hope so, but I doubt it..

Any one with a dodgy stick can probably watch it via the usual French channel, or ESPN+.

Is Bakole still with Matchroom?

[gregregegg]

This weekend is a huge weekend of boxing just buried by the fury and canelo fights. I really really like this fight.

[polecateddy]

Bakole would seem to be a poor man’s Dillian Whyte, which post-Fury, isn’t exactly a model that inspires much confidence.

[mickey1975]

Bakole would seem to be a poor man’s Dillian Whyte, which post-Fury, isn’t exactly a model that inspires much confidence.

That's why Tyson brought him in. Billy said he did well but I think Bill is slightly deluded when it comes to Martin.

[jameswilson]

This weekend is a huge weekend of boxing just buried by the fury and canelo fights. I really really like this fight.

Yeah I’ve always had a soft spot for heavyweight fights between two top 20-25 fighters. I was really looking forward to Zhang v Hrgovic and likewise like this one.

[Boxerbeetle]

I’ve been confidently picking Martin for ages in this matchup, but now it’s fight week I’m having second thoughts.

[margaret thatcher]

egg yoke has looked good enough for me to think that he gets the better of it. martin's got some ability and size but just a bit too lackadaisical in there for me

[JamesPhilips]

Bakole would seem to be a poor man’s Dillian Whyte, which post-Fury, isn’t exactly a model that inspires much confidence.

That's why Tyson brought him in. Billy said he did well but I think Bill is slightly deluded when it comes to Martin.

Yeah I always get that feeling, like he desperately hopes he’s got a guy who can fight for the world title so he can get a nice payday….

[Ruthless-RKO]

ESPN Press Release

Tony Yoka, the undefeated French heavyweight who captured Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Games, takes a major step up in class this Saturday, May 14, in a 10-round main event against Congolese contender Martin Bakole at Accor Arena in Paris.

Yoka-Bakole headlines a loaded fight card that will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.

Yoka (11-0, 9 KOs) is already ranked in the top 10 by two of the major sanctioning organizations. He’s spent the entirety of his pro career fighting in France and has scored a series of standout wins over the likes of Jonnie Rice, Alexander Dimitrenko, and former world title challenger Johann Duhaupas. In September 2021, he knocked out previously undefeated Croatian contender Petar Milas in seven rounds. Bakole (17-1, 13 KOs), who stands 6’6 and often weighs more than 250 pounds, has spent much of his eight-year pro career based in Scotland. He’s won six straight since an October 2018 TKO loss to American Olympian Michael Hunter, a run that’s included victories over recognizable names like Mariusz Wach, Kevin Johnson, and Sergey Kuzmin.

In undercard action on ESPN+:

In an eight-round lightweight contest, two-time French Olympian and 2016 Olympic silver medalist Sofiane Oumiha (1-0, 1 KO) will battle fellow unbeaten Mevy Boufoudi (8-0, 3 KOs). At the Tokyo Olympics, Oumiha lost to Keyshawn Davis, the eventual silver medalist and current Top Rank-signed standout.

French prospect Christ “Little T” Esabe (11-0, 3 KOs) takes a step up in class versus Venezuelan veteran Sander Diaz (13-8-1, 9 KOs) in an eight-rounder at lightweight. Esabe is the reigning WBC Francophone featherweight champion and a former French featherweight champion.

French amateur standout Victor Yoka, younger brother of Tony Yoka, will make his professional debut in a six-round lightweight bout against the durable Gurami Kurtanidze (4-14-5, 1 KO).

[(craig)]

This weekend!

I’d completely forgotten about this one. Any U.K. TV?

Only ESPN and Canel+

[daz74]

This weekend!

I’d completely forgotten about this one. Any U.K. TV?

Only ESPN and Canel+

I wonder if the reason Sky aren’t showing it is cause it’s on ESPN+ instead of standard ESPN ….. ?

[maverick23]

I’d completely forgotten about this one. Any U.K. TV?

Only ESPN and Canel+

I wonder if the reason Sky aren’t showing it is cause it’s on ESPN+ instead of standard ESPN ….. ?

Sky don’t have a deal with ESPN - their deal is with Top Rank.

[daz74]

Only ESPN and Canel+

I wonder if the reason Sky aren’t showing it is cause it’s on ESPN+ instead of standard ESPN ….. ?

Sky don’t have a deal with ESPN - their deal is with Top Rank.

ah, ok, i get it, this fight isn’t with Top Rank

[Ruthless-RKO]

I wonder if the reason Sky aren’t showing it is cause it’s on ESPN+ instead of standard ESPN ….. ?

Sky don’t have a deal with ESPN - their deal is with Top Rank.

ah, ok, i get it, this fight isn’t with Top Rank

Correct.