The Hexagon has undoubtedly become too small for him as evidenced by his rapid success on September 25 against Johann Duhaupas, defeated in less than 90 seconds. While he has scheduled two fights before the end of 2020, Tony Yoka will face Croatian Petar Milas during his next step in the ring.
We do not yet know precisely the place and date of the fight which will probably take place in November. But we know what is at stake: a heavy European Union (EBU) belt. Allied to the WBC, the powerful world federation, the EBU is responsible for the management of English boxing at European level and its heavyweight title is vacant. The belt awaits its new owner.
Tony Yoka, amateur world champion in 2015 and Olympic champion in 2016, will therefore play his first professional championship there. An additional and important step in its “conquest”.
In the top 20 of the best heavyweights on the planet
Thanks to his recent rapid success in front of Duhaupas, Tony Yoka (28 years old, 2.01 m, 8 wins, including 7 before the limit, 0 losses) entered the top 20 of the best heavyweights on the planet. According to the reference site BoxRec, he occupies the 19th place in a ranking dominated by Tyson Fury. He is now the number 1 tricolor, ahead of Carlos Takam (26) or Johann Duhaupas (49). This classification references 1405 professional heavyweights all over the planet. When he started his “conquest” in 2017, the Frenchman was well beyond 300th place.
And the Croatian Petar Milas? He is younger (25 years old), shorter (1m94) but has more experience among the pros with 15 victories in his hunting roster including 11 before the limit and no defeat. But for BoxRec, he is far in the standings: only 51st, just behind Duhaupas, the last victim of the Olympic champion. Does this mean another easy fight for him? Obviously not, but seizing a European belt will mark a turning point in the rise of the Parisian who had warned at the end of September: “I look forward, I have several targets: Joe Joyce, Dillian Whyte, even Aleksandr Povetkin or Dereck Chisora. These are boxers who are not Top 5 but I can go through them and climb in the rankings. His next target will therefore be Croatian.
According to the EBU, the two boxers’ teams have until October 29 to agree on the terms of the fight. The place where it takes place will depend largely on the sanitary measures put in place. The curfew at 9 p.m. seems to close the door in Paris or its region even if Tony Yoka had said he was ready at the end of September to box even behind closed doors.
Article original de: www.leparisien.fr
