Tony Yoka

Anthony Victor James Yoka (born 28 April 1992) is a French professional boxer. As an amateur, he won a bronze medal at the 2015 European Games; and gold at the 2015 World Championships and 2016 Olympics.

Amateur career

Yoka won the gold medal against future WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in the Super heavyweight division at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore. At the 2010 Youth World Amateur Boxing Championships, he lost the final to Croatia's Filip Hrgović. In 2011 he lost at the European (Senior) Championships to Olympic Champion Roberto Cammarelle. At the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships he outpointed Jasem Delavari from Iran but was knocked out by Cuban Erislandy Savón. At the 2012 European Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament he beat three opponents before getting stopped by Magomed Omarov.

In 2015, Yoka first missed a chance to get the gold at the 2015 European Games but still managed to get the bronze medal. Following this achievement, Yoka won the gold at the 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships, earning him a spot at the 2016 Olympic Games at Rio de Janeiro.

Yoka won the gold over the British boxer Joe Joyce in the super heavyweight division at the 2016 Olympic Games, earning France its first Super Heavyweight gold medal.

Before this fight, Yoka had beaten Hussein Ishaish in the quarter-final, and Filip Hrgović in the semi-final. His amateur record was 60 wins and 12 losses.

Professional career

In 2017, Yoka turned professional. Trained by Virgil Hunter, Yoka fought and beat Travis Clark in his debut fight at Le Palais des Sports in Paris, in June 2017. In October 2017, Yoka defeated Jonathan Rice via unanimous decision 59–56, 60–54, and 58–56.