Tony Yoka will face Martin Bakole on January 15 in Paris. Here is everything you need to know about this Congolese boxer.
He finally replaced Carlos Takam who was injured. Martin Bakole will have the honor and the pleasure of facing the French heavyweight, still undefeated, for what will be the real first big challenge of his career at the AccorHotels Arena in Bercy. A fight which had already almost taken place since the trainer of the Congolese (Billy Nelson) had indicated a few weeks ago to wait for the green light from the Yoka clan, which had finally set its sights on Takam.
Aged 28, Martin Bakole is a very attacking right-handed boxer. Very explosive, he has 17 wins (13 KOs) for a loss against Michael Hunter (8e worldwide). Ranked 18e, the Kananga native is the little brother of WBC light heavyweight champion Ilunga Makabu, future opponent of Saul “Canelo”.
The one who is a little shorter than Tony Yoka (1.98m against 2.01m) has often been sparring partner of Anthony Joshua but also of Oleksandr Usyk during his quest for the IBF-WBA-WBO titles against… Anthony Joshua . He also shared sessions with Joe Joyce, Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury. Suffice to say that he has a solid experience on this side. Even if the sparrings obviously do not make the fights.
Against Tony Yoka, he will once again have the public against him. But unlike the Frenchman, Martin Bakole is used to fighting abroad. He notably beat the Pole Mariusz Wach by TKO at home in April 2019. Suffice to say that the fight promises.
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