We now know the identity of the heavyweight Tony Yoka of France (25 years, 2.01 m, 2 wins, including 1 KOs) will face for his third pro fight. This is the Belgian Ali Baghouz (29 years, 1,88 m, 10 success including 6 K.-O., 1 draw, 1 defeat). His only loss, he suffered after a long period of inactivity in his last fight by KO. from the first recovery. Scheduled on December 16, this fight will take place at La Seine Musical, a 6,000-seat venue located on Île Seguin in Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine). The poster for this meeting will also include Souleymane Cissokho, Nordine Oubaali, Elie Konki and Michel Tavares. In addition, originally scheduled in Monaco, the European Super Welterweight Championship (vacant title) between Zakaria Attou and the Italian Orlando Fiordigiglio will take place on December 22 in Saint-Quentin (Aisne). "Attou's entourage has pointed out to me that there will be a lot of Italian fans in Monaco," says promoter Gerard Teysseron. On the other hand, those of Attou will come much more easily to Saint-Quentin. " In the same program, Guillaume Frénois will face Argentina's Fernando Saucedo for an international belt of super-featherweight.
I hope this journeyman starches him and we can be rid of this coddled hypejob before a bunch of idiots jump on his bandwagon.
Will be interesting to see how he compares to Bakole who smashed him in 1 round. Baghouz showed some ambition for the short time it lasted against Baghouz so he might not be a total walk over, though obviously Yoka should win this one comfortably.
It's too early to tell, but I suspect you're right, his chin is obviously a weakness and his lack of power and inside skills will eventually see someone walk him down and KO him. Though Hunter seems to know what he needs to improve so at least he is working on the things that will help him progress.
TEAM YOKA ALL THE WAY even though I think hes gonna turn out to be the weakest of the 4 super heavys who made the 2016 semi finals and then turned pro lol. I am stillrooting for him
I think you're a little too quick to hate on a fanbase that doesn't even exist yet and call him coddled even though he fought a better opponent in his 2nd pro fight than most other olympic medalists did, including Lewis, Klitschkos and Joshua.
As an amateur he was just given fights he blatantly lost over and over again. If that isn't coddled then I don't know what is. You're right in this isn't a terrible opponent but I don't see him going very far on the evidence provided by his overdecorated am career.
He's not a total hype job. It would be best if he can test himself vs a top ten fighter. If he gets starched early boxing lost one of its best prospects in the division. No worries, he won't be Wilder.
I thought he lost to Hrgovic in the semi-finals 2-1, but It wasn't an outrages robbery or anything(the final with Joyce was very close as well). There were like half a dozen worse decisions in the very same olympics. I thought he deserved gold medal more than Joshua deserved his, and AJ is the #1 HW in the world right now. So getting a questionable medal is no reason to wright someone off for the pros. That said, I don't think he'll be as good as Joshua, or Lewis or Wlad. But he won't be as big of a bust as Audley was. He'll be somewhere in the middle.
Audley became the WBF champion of the world, and he never lost that belt in the ring. So in terms of achievements that will take some beating. Audley also carried David Haye for 2 rounds before getting unlucky and walking onto something.
