Tony Yoka’s loss to Carlos Takam makes Joe Joyce happy

Considering himself unfairly beaten on points by Tony Yoka in the super heavyweight final of the 2016 Olympic Gamesthe Englishman Joe Joyce was delighted to the defeat of this one against Carlos Takam, last Saturday in Paris. The Englishman, who has progressed significantly more than the Frenchman among the professionals, won his fifteen fights there, including fourteen before the limit, in particular against Takam (6th round stoppage, September 2021, Wembley). On April 15 in London, Joyce (37) will face Chinese Zhiley Zhang (39, 24 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss) for the interim WBO title – the full title is held by Ukrainian Alexandre Usyk , also WBA-IBF champion, who should be opposed to the Englishman Tyson Fury, holding WBC, on April 29 at Wembley.

“Takam also served as my sparring partner for my last fight, said Joyce on British TV Sky Sports. He’s a good guy and it was good to see him win. He boxed very well. Yoka, I don’t know. I don’t see much difference from when he was an amateur, especially for this fight. He has this very tight guard. He gave good shots, but not enough. When he was Olympic champion, he was too sure of himself. And it’s not a good thing that he chose his opponents himself among the pros. He said in an interview: “I don’t think Joyce will do anything in the pros.” I think it backfired…”

Another man of the Yoka generation has progressed more than the Frenchman. Beaten on points by the latter in the semi-finals of the Rio Games, the Croatian Filip Hrgovic (30) won his fifteen professional fights (including twelve before the limit). While waiting to face Usyk, he will compete for the interim IBF title.