Tony Yoka: Packing Glass?

They are two completely different species. French and English....

 

Leading up to the fight, I gave Yoka a small edge because Bakole has shown on a couple of occasions that he starts to drown in deep waters. In contrast, Yoka had shown that he tends to get more dominant after 6-7 rounds. Obviously, the manner in which he's been able to do that has given rise to much controversy.

Bakole put his stamp on the fight EARLY - and Yoka just went into his shell. Yoka had a brief moment of success in the 7th round - but didn't press the action. I thought Bakole was actually slowing down a bit after that round, but Yoka was just satisfied to keep a respectful distance. He had no interest in engaging.

Not sure what Yoka does next because I don't see much of a market for a gatekeeper who is content to fight only in France.

 

Audley Yoka

 

"Glass jaw" gets thrown around too much. There have been plenty of times where a fighter who wasn't a particularly hard puncher managed to knock out an opponent because they landed a punch right on the button. A perfect example of this would be Michael Nunn's knockout of Sumbu Kalambay.

If a punch lands right on the button, and it's a punch you don't see coming, it doesn't even have to be a particularly hard punch for it to knock you out.

 

Yoka looks to be genuinely glassy though. For once it's not an overreation.

 

His defence is horrible and he gets caught with his head up in the air.

 

Well, someone has to fill the vacancy left by Khan but I'll need to see another KO or two before I'm convinced his chin is up to the task (not that I wish any harm upon him)

 

Joyce was robbed at the Olympics.

 

Yeah, Yoka's chin is terrible. He's a KO just waiting to happen.

 

Jokas built up a streak against soft touches. Time for this glass jawed joke to be cashed out again! Personally I would like to see him in another crossroads fight just to make things interesting, even if he usually doesn't do to well in those.. But Makhmudov would be a fun one. Jokas the better boxer but we know he can't take Makhmudovs power and with the latter proving he can go 12 hard rounds and actually follow a gameplan Joka might not be able to count on him gassing out.