Himself evokes a “very, very long tunnel” which he may have finally seen the end. After three losses in a row which weakened his **confidence**, the French boxer **Tony Yoka** began his journey towards reconstruction by winning at points in a significant fight, Saturday May 17 in the evening, against Russian **Arslan Yallyev**, at the **Adidas Arena** in Paris.
Courageous without being ultra-dominant, the 2016 **Olympic champion** won the **unanimous decision** (96-94, 98-92, 97-93), and now has fourteen victories for three defeats among professionals.
“I wanted to do better; you wanted me to do better, I apologize for that” he told the Parisian public, which he has been finding for the first time since December 2023. But the 33-year-old boxer still said he was “very happy”.
Two Victorious Fights Sheltered from Media Pressure
The hero of the **Rio Olympic Games** had left the spotlight following his defeat against the Belgian **Ryad Merhy**, marking his third straight loss after already suffering defeats against **Martin Bakole** in May 2022 and **Carlos Takam** in March 2023. These three devastating defeats had largely damaged the **frenzy** that once surrounded him since his Olympic title. Considered the boxing icon in France, he fell from his pedestal.
“After the chain of defeats, it was complicated” he confessed. “It is hard to put the words on that; we had to get up.”
Determined to recover, Yoka discreetly fought in two matches in **England** against lower-tier opponents, regaining victories that boosted his **confidence**. These fights were strategically held away from the **media** spotlight that had accompanied the grand launch of his “**conquest**” odyssey in 2017.
Feeling more composed than during his previous outings, Yoka stated he was “released” before stepping back into the ring. “I said to myself, ‘You have to relax; you have to take advantage of all that because in the end, it is only happiness.’ I had nothing to lose; the worst had already happened to me,” he expressed.
“Still Good Years Ahead of Me”
Entering the ring shortly before 11 p.m. to the sounds of the rap group **Werenoi**, Yoka was able to count on public support, despite the **Adidas Arena** being far from full. Under the chants of “Tony, Tony”, he stepped into the fight with determination, leveraging his imposing physique as part of his strategy.
Facing Yallyev, who is ranked 38th in the world and is unbeaten in sixteen fights, proved to be a challenge. The Dagestani boxer was known for his punching power and even threatened Yoka in the fifth round. However, Yoka managed to pull ahead by utilizing his skill and strength in exchanges.
“I wanted a fight against a strong opponent; I didn’t want someone who was going to fall in the first round; the public wouldn’t have liked that,” he stated.
The path forward for Yoka remains uncertain, especially considering his lucrative partnership with **Canal+** ended with this match. Residing in **London** after spending several years in the **United States**, he now trains under the guidance of **Don Charles**, a specialist in heavyweights and mentor to British contender **Daniel Dubois**. He has also signed with the renowned promoter **Frank Warren** for 2024.
Looking ahead, Yoka hopes to fight on the undercard of a significant boxing event at **Wembley** scheduled for July 19, featuring a heavyweight unification match between **Oleksandr Usyk** and **Dubois**. “I still have great years ahead of me, with beautiful fights to come,” he concluded.