Due to the return of the gauges to curb the spread of the coronavirus, boxing fans will have to wait before seeing Tony Yoka in a ring. The fight in the heavyweight category between the Olympic champion and the Congolese Martin Bakole, scheduled for January 15 in Paris-Bercy, has been postponed, the promoter told Tuesday. the team.
On Monday, Prime Minister Jean Castex unveiled a series of measures intended to combat the outbreak of Covid-19, including the return to the gauges set at 2,000 people in indoor enclosures and 5,000 outdoors from January 3. Unbeaten in 11 professional fights, Frenchman Tony Yoka (19th in the world) was to face Martin Bakole (17th in the world) in the Parisian venue of Paris-Bercy, which can accommodate more than 16,000 spectators.
With this gauge, “it is not economically viable”
“It is a great disappointment to have to cancel this evening so close to its end”, lamented the promoter of the event Jérôme Abiteboul. “The imposition of a gauge of 2,000 spectators is not economically viable, it leads to financial disaster. It’s terrible because Tony Yoka and Martin Bakole, as well as all the other boxers scheduled on the program have been training hard for several months, ”he added.
Tony Yoka, 29, has not fought since September 10 and a victory (by knockout in the 7th round) over the central Roland-Garros against the Croatian Petar Milas. Amateur Olympic champion at the Rio Games in 2016, he won nine of his eleven professional fights by knockouts.