Tony Yoka: “I’d like to fight Joe Joyce to close this chapter”

French heavyweight Tony Yoka has expressed his desire to face his former rival, Britain’s Joe Joyce.

“In Paris I’d like to face a reputable opponent. For example, Joe Joyce. I’d like to fight Joe Joyce in the spring to close this matter once and for all. He’s been saying the same thing himself. He still doesn’t accept his loss to me in the final of the 2016 Olympic Games,” Yoka told L’Équipe.

The 33-year-old Tony Yoka (14-3, 11 KOs) met 40-year-old Joe Joyce (16-4, 15 KOs) in the summer of 2016 at the Rio Olympics. Yoka emerged victorious in what was the tournament’s final bout.

Joyce has suffered four defeats in his last five fights. The Briton’s most recent outing was in April against Filip Hrgović, where he lost by unanimous decision.

In 2024, Yoka snapped a three-fight losing streak and is currently on a run of three straight wins — two by stoppage and one on points.