I didn't recognise Djeko's name, maybe that's because he's previously cruiserweight: https://starboxing.com/boxers/joel-djeko/ Can't see much in his record: https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/602898 to worry Yoka....
I think Yoka looks really good (admittedly there are rumours he struggles to take a shot) but he’s due a big step up soon. He’s boxing decent fringe levels but he needs a top 20 guy next like Hughie, Ortiz or Chisora.
I’m really not keen on people fighting guys that are stepping up from a lower weight class that didn’t even do anything special at that weight to begin with. oh well at least it’s some boxing on the telly
I hope Yoka has sacked his strength and conditioning coach. It is extremely sloppy to allow yourself to get popped in this day and age. Given the limitations and amateurism of the testing authorities. Yoka should steamroller this opponent. I heard he was poor against Hammer and that doesn’t bode well. You should be tucking Hammer away inside the distance if you are an elite HW. He took 10 rounds to tuck dodgy Dave Allen away too.
He looks good in the way any outstanding amateur looks against limited professional opponents, prior to stepping up. Big difference between amateur level and professional level. I was watching the boxing life story edition on Frankie Gavin last night, which is a classic case.
Christian Hammer looked like the definition of limited in their bout. He came in with a big spare tyre around his waist and plodded for 12 rounds without inspiration. Yoka still looked crap.
Hammer has been the distance with both Pedvetkin and Ortiz. Allen said Yoka was the hardest puncher he’s ever been in with
By now every boxer and his manager should know that Hammer is going to make you look bad. He doesn't do much, but he does it for 12 rounds and by the end of it no-one wants to watch anyone involved in a boxing context ever again. I think Yoka will be stage managed to a title shot but ultimately fall short.
I remember watching Djeko about 5 years ago against Craig Kennedy on C5. He dropped Kennedy twice but lost on Points, Kennedy would get iced by Askin a year later. Seems a bit of a strange fight to make, as mentioned by someone else, it's just someone coming up in weight who did nothing of any real note at Cruiser.
Yeah I wouldn't take too much out of whoever faces Hammer. He's usually there to make fighters look bad and does a good job at it. He'll do it to plenty more prospects no doubt about that.
