Tony Yoka’s welcome to the pros, beaten by Martin Bakole

Premier hook in “La conquête”. Tony Yoka has been on his knees, dominated like never before since the beginning of his professional career. He had a terrible start to the fight on Saturday at the Accor Arena, drunk by the powerful Martin Bakole, whose right hooks hurt from the start. Yoka raised his head and there was a match. But he ended up bowing, by shared decision.

Yoka almost reversed the trend … until the 10th round

The fifth resumption once again attested to the dominance of Bakole (28). His French rival was counted a second time, his right ankle slipping away as he had just cashed in a straight. Yoka then bent her spine, without breaking. They have a positive sign of this evening, which will remain as that of his first defeat in pro, in his twelfth fight.

Tony Yoka la dicté le tempo du septième au neuvième round, after the encouraging sixth half and, in particular, a well-felt uppercut. But Bacole never wavered. He even sported a provocative smile at times, sure of his strength. Before the last three-minute showdown, he was noticeably serene in his corner. We quickly figured out why, watching his last throttle.

In full swing at the end of this duel, Martin Bakole confirmed his eighteenth success in nineteen fights at this level. It held its thirteenth best truckload in the world (BoxRec ranking). Two notches above Yoka (15th), who tutored new heights this Saturday. Faced with a boxer more massive and almost as sharp as him, he found no fault. This was his first big challenge and he ended up failing.