On the Philippe-Chatrier central court, at Roland-Garros, the scene of his last victory, two years ago, the French Tony Yoka suffered his third defeat in a row on Saturday evening against the Belgian Ryad Merhy, 31 years old like him, leaving have serious doubts about the continuation of his professional career.
Olympic champion in 2016, during the Rio Games, Yoka (11 victories, 3 defeats), was hit several times by the right of the Belgian, very solid on his supports, from the 4th round, and even if he came back a little in the game during the next three rounds, he suffered again in the 8th, failing to keep his opponent at bay, far from the level that was his a few years ago.
On restraint throughout the ten rounds
“You must not have regrets, neither today nor tomorrowurged the French coach at the break. Show me you were an Olympic champion! » But the Belgian Ryad Merhy (32 wins, 2 losses), pro since 2013, took the victory unanimously from the three judges (96-94 each time), he who has long evolved in the lower light-heavyweight category and was only competing in his third heavyweight fight. Taller than his Belgian opponent, Yoka (20 cm and 6 kilos heavier) did not understand his defeat even though he seemed to be restrained throughout the ten rounds.
This is the Frenchman’s third defeat, after those against the Congolese Martin Bakole in May 2022 then that of early 2023 against Carlos Takam, 42 years old. Left a few months ago to relaunch in London with a new coach, Don Charles, 62, who trained Anthony Joshua and Derek Chisora. Seven years after his Olympic gold medal, Tony Yoka’s dream of a professional career inevitably took a hit this Saturday but, just after the fight, he felt that it was not the time to talk about that.