BoxRec

Posted: **31 Jul 2025, 03:39**

Tony Yoka adds another heavyweight to the Queensberry roster

Queensberry Promotions has added another heavyweight to its growing talent pool, having signed 2016 Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka.

Yoka’s signing, which was announced on Wednesday, adds another big man to a roster that already boasts former titleholders Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker, plus top contender Agit Kabayel, Fabio Wardley and Zhilei Zhang.

Yoka, 14-3 (11 KOs), of Paris, was most recently in the ring in May, defeating previously unbeaten Russian prospect Arslan Yallyev by unanimous decision. The 33-year-old Yoka is currently on a three-fight winning streak, which was preceded by a rough three-fight period when he lost three straight fights – to Martin Bakole, Carlos Takam and Ryad Merhy, all by split or majority decision – between 2022 and 2023.

The news comes days after reports linked Yoka as a potential opponent for former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who is in the market for a tune-up bout before pursuing an all-British showdown next year with Fury.

There have also been reports of a potential rematch between Yoka and Joe Joyce, who faced off in the final of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

In addition to the series of defeats, Yoka’s career had been slowed by a 12-month suspension in 2018 for failing on three occasions to disclose his location for out-of-competition drug tests.

Posted: **31 Jul 2025, 03:39**

Home of the heavyweights!

Posted: **31 Jul 2025, 03:57**

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑31 Jul 2025, 03:39 Home of the heavyweights!

He signed with them last year. He was even on TalkSport back then talking about.

Posted: **31 Jul 2025, 06:55**

Weird, surely Frank can just put Yoka on one his cards without giving him a contract, bit underwhelming tbh

Posted: **31 Jul 2025, 07:20**

handsofstone wrote: ↑31 Jul 2025, 06:55 Weird, surely Frank can just put Yoka on one his cards without giving him a contract, bit underwhelming tbh

Probably has something to do with a Yoka / AJ fight apparently being in the works i.e. an opportunity to make Matchroom's life more difficult

Posted: **31 Jul 2025, 08:03**

Joyce vs Yoka in the Autumn? Winner then faces Joshua when he's back from injury?

Posted: **31 Jul 2025, 08:07**

joshj909 wrote: ↑31 Jul 2025, 08:03 Joyce vs Yoka in the Autumn? Winner then faces Joshua when he's back from injury?

My first thought too.

Joshua-Joyce is intriguing. In a bit of a twisted way. I'd be resolutely Team Joe.

Posted: **31 Jul 2025, 08:38**

deadpan wrote: ↑31 Jul 2025, 08:07
joshj909 wrote: ↑31 Jul 2025, 08:03 Joyce vs Yoka in the Autumn? Winner then faces Joshua when he's back from injury?
My first thought too.

Joshua-Joyce is intriguing. In a bit of a twisted way. I'd be resolutely Team Joe.

It's a bad style match up for Joyce.

Posted: **31 Jul 2025, 10:47**

mickey1975 wrote: ↑31 Jul 2025, 08:38
deadpan wrote: ↑31 Jul 2025, 08:07
joshj909 wrote: ↑31 Jul 2025, 08:03 Joyce vs Yoka in the Autumn? Winner then faces Joshua when he's back from injury?
My first thought too.

Joshua-Joyce is intriguing. In a bit of a twisted way. I'd be resolutely Team Joe.
It's a bad style match up for Joyce.

I meant I'd be rooting for Joe. Though a win for either wouldn't surprise me.

Posted: **31 Jul 2025, 16:00**

Shortlist is

Dubois,
Kabayel
Joyce

Posted: **31 Jul 2025, 18:06**

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑31 Jul 2025, 16:00 Shortlist is

Dubois,
Kabayel
Joyce

Only really makes sense for Joyce. There's an argument that it's a bounce back fight for Dubois but I think he can do better than Yoka for that. Kabayel needs to be looking WAY above Yoka otherwise he's going to lose all momentum and get overtaken.

Posted: **01 Aug 2025, 05:34**

If Joyce fights and beats Yoka then is Joyce a good comeback fight for Dubois?

Posted: **01 Aug 2025, 05:44**

jameswilson wrote: ↑01 Aug 2025, 05:34 If Joyce fights and beats Yoka then is Joyce a good comeback fight for Dubois?

It would make sense for both and also from a promotional perspective given the result of the last fight. Dubois gets the opportunity at revenge against an Olympian who just beat a gold medalist in a fight he should win while Joyce gets one final shot at getting back into the top 10 by facing someone that he's already beaten. Joyce should retire if he loses while Dubois would have some serious work to do after a loss.

Posted: **05 Aug 2025, 16:40**

REVITALISED TONY YOKA TARGETS ANTHONY JOSHUA FIGHT: 'I'M HERE, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE'

Tony Yoka insists that he is revitalised and ready to make a belated impression on the heavyweight division.

Between May 2022 and December 2023, the French heavyweight suffered three consecutive 10-round decision defeats to Martin Bakole, Carlos Takam and Ryad Merhy which saw his stock plummet.

Yoka (14-3, 11 KOs) took himself out of the spotlight, continued to work hard under his trainer Don Charles, and set about rebuilding his confidence.

He scored two low-profile wins but upped his level of competition in May and notched up a solid win over previously undefeated 16-0 Russian contender Arslan Yallyev.

His recent decision to sign with Queensberry Promotions - who currently hold most of the aces in the heavyweight division - will provide the 2016 Olympic gold medalist with plenty of opportunities to re-establish himself as a contender.

However, there are very few fighters on the planet who would reject the opportunity to take a big shortcut, accepting a fight with two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

Despite his fifth-round knockout defeat by Daniel Dubois in September, the 36-year-old remains one of the sport's biggest draws.

Rumours about a potential Yoka-Joshua fight have begun to circulate since the 33-year-old's recent Queensberry deal was made official and that is a prospect that excites the eight-year pro.

"I mean, I heard some rumours about it," Yoka said during an interview with allegedly.

"I believe in my team. I believe in Queensberry, my manager and my coach to do the best fights for me. I'm not in any talks with him so I don't know what's going on.

"What I know is that I'm getting ready for anybody and after this big win, if they ask or propose me to fight Joshua, of course. That would be a great, great fight for me to take.

Yoka has been operating at levels far below Joshua - who won gold at the London 2012 Olympics - but has little time to waste.

Joshua's plans are still a mystery to all but his inner circle. A fight with Jake Paul seems to have become a distinct possibility whilst a long overdue fight with the retired two-time heavyweight champion Tyson Fury would still be an enormous event.

Yoka knows that Joshua has bigger goals in mind but if the Londoner decides he needs to sharpen his tools before embarking on a big 2026, Yoka is more than prepared to answer the call.

"There is a history behind it as two Olympic gold medalists. I think that's something that makes sense," he continued.

"I saw him fight some guys that I didn't even know. I think it was just before Otto Wallin he fought a guy, I don't know the guy [Joshua beat Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius]. I understand that he lost against Dubois last year. They might want to do something like Joshua-Fury or whatever.

"You want a fight before that, I'm here. You don't have to look like too far from there."

Posted: **08 Aug 2025, 18:21**

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑05 Aug 2025, 16:40 REVITALISED TONY YOKA TARGETS ANTHONY JOSHUA FIGHT: 'I'M HERE, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE'

Tony Yoka insists that he is revitalised and ready to make a belated impression on the heavyweight division.

Between May 2022 and December 2023, the French heavyweight suffered three consecutive 10-round decision defeats to Martin Bakole, Carlos Takam and Ryad Merhy which saw his stock plummet.

Yoka (14-3, 11 KOs) took himself out of the spotlight, continued to work hard under his trainer Don Charles, and set about rebuilding his confidence.

He scored two low-profile wins but upped his level of competition in May and notched up a solid win over previously undefeated 16-0 Russian contender Arslan Yallyev.

His recent decision to sign with Queensberry Promotions - who currently hold most of the aces in the heavyweight division - will provide the 2016 Olympic gold medalist with plenty of opportunities to re-establish himself as a contender.

However, there are very few fighters on the planet who would reject the opportunity to take a big shortcut, accepting a fight with two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

Despite his fifth-round knockout defeat by Daniel Dubois in September, the 36-year-old remains one of the sport's biggest draws.

Rumours about a potential Yoka-Joshua fight have begun to circulate since the 33-year-old's recent Queensberry deal was made official and that is a prospect that excites the eight-year pro.

"I mean, I heard some rumours about it," Yoka said during an interview with allegedly.

"I believe in my team. I believe in Queensberry, my manager and my coach to do the best fights for me. I'm not in any talks with him so I don't know what's going on.

"What I know is that I'm getting ready for anybody and after this big win, if they ask or propose me to fight Joshua, of course. That would be a great, great fight for me to take.

Yoka has been operating at levels far below Joshua - who won gold at the London 2012 Olympics - but has little time to waste.

Joshua's plans are still a mystery to all but his inner circle. A fight with Jake Paul seems to have become a distinct possibility whilst a long overdue fight with the retired two-time heavyweight champion Tyson Fury would still be an enormous event.

Yoka knows that Joshua has bigger goals in mind but if the Londoner decides he needs to sharpen his tools before embarking on a big 2026, Yoka is more than prepared to answer the call.

"There is a history behind it as two Olympic gold medalists. I think that's something that makes sense," he continued.

"I saw him fight some guys that I didn't even know. I think it was just before Otto Wallin he fought a guy, I don't know the guy [Joshua beat Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius]. I understand that he lost against Dubois last year. They might want to do something like Joshua-Fury or whatever.

"You want a fight before that, I'm here. You don't have to look like too far from there."

" I understand that he lost against Dubois last year."

Obvioulsy he's a real student of his sport. Or badly translated, of course.

Posted: **09 Aug 2025, 04:58**

Nothing in it for AJ to fight Yoko

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Tony Yoka adds another heavyweight to the Queensberry roster

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