BoxRec

Dan Azeez to box on undercard of Tony Yoka vs Carlos Takam heavyweight clash in Paris, live on Sky Sports

French star Tony Yoka will take on heavyweight rival Carlos Takam in Paris on March 11; On the undercard Dan Azeez will challenge Frenchman Thomas Faure for the European light-heavyweight title with the event live on Sky Sports

Dan Azeez will box in Paris on the undercard of the Tony Yoka vs Carlos Takam heavyweight clash on March 11, live on Sky Sports.

Azeez, the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion, will challenge for the European title when he takes on France's Thomas Faure in the latter's home country.

The main event of the bill, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, sees an all-French heavyweight showdown when Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka collides with former world title challenger Carlos Takam.

The event is a blockbuster co-promotion between BOXXER and All Star Promotions at the Zenith Paris - La Villette.

Azeez, 18-0 (12), will take the next step on his own mission to become a world title contender in his challenge for the vacant EBU European light-heavyweight championship.

"My goal has always been to become a world champion and I believe that the European title is the perfect stepping stone for me in this mission. I'm training hard and I'm excited for the fight," he said.

Opposing Azeez in this 12-round contest, Faure is a former European Union light-heavyweight champion and former French national champion who is coming into this bout on an eight-fight undefeated streak.

Last December Azeez defeated Rocky Fielding in Bournemouth, a fourth stoppage win in his last five outings, completing his ascent from English to British and Commonwealth champion.

He has set out to follow a measured but seemingly inexorable path to world championship contention. For Azeez this European title bout is the next crucial stepping stone and he travels abroad to fight for the championship crown.

The event is headlined by two Olympians as former European heavyweight champion Yoka faces the heavy-handed Cameroon-born Takam.

Yoka controversially defeated Joe Joyce in the 2016 Olympic super-heavyweight in Rio de Janeiro to win the gold medal for France but is a proven force on the European professional circuit since turning pro in 2017.

His sole loss to date came at the hands of highly-ranked heavyweight Martin Bakole, who earlier this month signed an exclusive promotional agreement with BOXXER as he prepares to make a world title run in 2023.

BOXXER CEO and founder Ben Shalom said: "We're delighted to start a relationship with Jerome Abiteboul and All Star Boxing. We really believe that we can work with promotions around the world to grow the sport and get the biggest fights made.

"Dan Azeez is such an exciting talent and the European title is the next step on his journey to world championship contention. It will be a great experience for Dan and we have more fights to announce later this week."

The event takes place on Saturday March 11 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Republic of Ireland.


Confirmed.

Would rather have had Bakole, yes.

Takam is still ok though.

Well, not sure, if Takam is a step up at this point. He looked decent vs Joyce, but it ended as it had been expected. Yoka gotta break Takam down confidently.

Hmmm...interesting. I'm thinking Takam has a chance here.

Bakole and Nelson with Dick in hands

Thought they wouldent fight cause they are mates. This is a good fight for yoka. Would of been good if he got in there befor joyce vs takem, but i think takems stock probably didnt Dip in that fight (just on the surface levle of records.)

Yoka is a better "boxer" than joyce, But can he take the shots joyce took? And can he grind like joyce can if it goes late in the fight?.

Yoka can just follow the joe joyce script and takam will either fold or just hang on in til the end but I only see a Yoka win .

Frede6 wrote: ↑16 Nov 2021, 16:39

Translation?

Pointless fight. Takam is a 3 round fighter then wants to stop. Yoka’s amateur credentials should negate fights like this. I’d like to see him fight a Martin, H Fury, ect.

Oh, I was hoping Bakole
At least he is highly motivated to succeed.
Nothing against Takem, he trains for these things, and even though he is getting pretty old, its more of a mental than physical thing he is lacking these days.
I'll be fine watching it, but it isn't my ideal choice for sure.

What now for Bakole? Joe Joyce should fight him.

peter barlow wrote: ↑17 Nov 2021, 13:38 What now for Bakole? Joe Joyce should fight him.

Oh that would be sweet.

I really hope Joe hasn't fallen into a holding pattern waiting for his title shot, at his age he needs more than one big payday. It could take another year. Or more, but I don't wanna think about that.

Yoka should win but how he does it depends on how Takam looks. A good next step up for Yoka and a good chance for Takam to show he's still got something left.

Hopefully they can arrange the Bakole fight early next year should Yoka win. After beating a bunch of overated and faded European veterans in Allen, Dimitrenko, Wallisch, Duhaupas, Hammer and Djeko it looked like Yoka was moving on to facing fresher prospects in Mila's and the rumoured Bakole fight. If he's still facing the veterans then Pulev, Helenius or Chisora next would be good. Otherwise, he should stick to the prospects or younger guys going forward.

Webbo911 wrote: ↑17 Nov 2021, 12:41

Frede6 wrote: ↑16 Nov 2021, 16:39

Translation?

Bakole : Yoka come here to fight
Yoka : No No I am too afraid

Change of plan….

Takam’s out and Bakole’s in. Should be a good fight.

bakole is more dangerous , thats good move

maverick23 wrote: ↑09 Dec 2021, 11:31 Change of plan….

Takam’s out and Bakole’s in. Should be a good fight.

Nice, that's more interesting.

A year later and they finally doing it

I didn't realise Takam is 42, thought he was younger than that

Crazy that Bakole comfortably beats Yoka and yet still hasn’t got something confirmed.

I’d imagine the queue to fight Martin Bakole is as long as the queue to get a Tabasco enema.

jameswilson wrote: ↑16 Jan 2023, 16:37 I’d imagine the queue to fight Martin Bakole is as long as the queue to get a Tabasco enema.

Just me then......

tony joka

pisstake fight

maverick23 wrote: ↑16 Jan 2023, 16:21 Crazy that Bakole comfortably beats Yoka and yet still hasn’t got something confirmed.

He has