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Tony Yoka - Okolie off?
Posted: 25 Apr 2026, 16:57
by SportsRatings
I saw this fight isn't happening today and apparently Okolie had a bad drug test result.
Was actually looking forward to this, Yoka was awful for a stretch there but he beat Arslan Yallyev last May. If he was ever going to make a comeback Okolie was his chance.
Now Okolie is a disappointment too I guess.
Maybe he just ate some tainted beef, we'll see.
Re: Tony Yoka - Okolie off?
Posted: 25 Apr 2026, 17:08
by SportsRatings
Also why doesn't Boxrec list the knockdowns in Yoka's fights? I know he was knocked down at least once against Bakole but nothing is listed. I thought he was knocked down in at least 2 of his losses if not all 3
Re: Tony Yoka - Okolie off?
Posted: 26 Apr 2026, 06:44
by joshj909
SportsRatings wrote: ↑25 Apr 2026, 17:08
Also why doesn't Boxrec list the knockdowns in Yoka's fights? I know he was knocked down at least once against Bakole but nothing is listed. I thought he was knocked down in at least 2 of his losses if not all 3
It might be down to whether the local sanctioning body or whoever uploads the details includes it? I'm not sure
Re: Tony Yoka - Okolie off?
Posted: 28 Apr 2026, 08:49
by aumonier
Yoka was down twice against Bakole. There were no knockdowns in the fights he lost against Takam and Merhy. I don't know if it is mandatory to mention that in the fight facts in here. Best way to have an idea is to look at scorecards (he lost round 1 and 5 8-10 against Bakole), even though the explanation for the point deduction is not indicated (could be a point deduction by the referee for a foul - not in that case, Yoka was down twice).
I don't know what will occur to Okolie after this failed drug test (I think he said it is from a treatment he received for a biceps injury during the preparation of this fight), but the fact he has to come out of the fight is a huge blow for boxing in France. It was a real big fight for Yoka, an opportunity to get closer to his ambitions. It was also the first reunion by Queensberry in France, and it was fully cancelled (not only the Yoka-Okolie fight but other fights were scheduled and cancelled, including another french heavyweight boxer Aliev, and an IBF eliminator between Samake and Hadribeaj). Not sure if we are going to have such a big event in France in the near future.
Re: Tony Yoka - Okolie off?
Posted: 28 Apr 2026, 22:50
by SportsRatings
joshj909 wrote: ↑26 Apr 2026, 06:44
SportsRatings wrote: ↑25 Apr 2026, 17:08
Also why doesn't Boxrec list the knockdowns in Yoka's fights? I know he was knocked down at least once against Bakole but nothing is listed. I thought he was knocked down in at least 2 of his losses if not all 3
It might be down to whether the local sanctioning body or whoever uploads the details includes it? I'm not sure
Yeah I suppose. I just got used to seeing it for every fight, seemed like it was standard info put in every fight.
Re: Tony Yoka - Okolie off?
Posted: 28 Apr 2026, 22:51
by SportsRatings
aumonier wrote: ↑28 Apr 2026, 08:49
Yoka was down twice against Bakole. There were no knockdowns in the fights he lost against Takam and Merhy. I don't know if it is mandatory to mention that in the fight facts in here. Best way to have an idea is to look at scorecards (he lost round 1 and 5 8-10 against Bakole), even though the explanation for the point deduction is not indicated (could be a point deduction by the referee for a foul - not in that case, Yoka was down twice).
I don't know what will occur to Okolie after this failed drug test (I think he said it is from a treatment he received for a biceps injury during the preparation of this fight), but the fact he has to come out of the fight is a huge blow for boxing in France. It was a real big fight for Yoka, an opportunity to get closer to his ambitions. It was also the first reunion by Queensberry in France, and it was fully cancelled (not only the Yoka-Okolie fight but other fights were scheduled and cancelled, including another french heavyweight boxer Aliev, and an IBF eliminator between Samake and Hadribeaj). Not sure if we are going to have such a big event in France in the near future.
Thanks for that perspective. I don't think most ppl in the U.S. (nor UK, Germany, etc) think about what a prominent card cancellation means to another country that doesn't typically have a lot of big cards.