Written by John MacDonald
LAST NIGHT, the Paris 2024 Olympics kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony on the banks of the River Seine. In the next two days, a new generation of boxers will fight for gold.
For some, Olympic glory will be the launching pad for successful professional careers, and a select few can transcend the sport in the manner of past champions such as: Muhammad Ali, 'Sugar' Ray Leonard, Katie Taylor and Anthony. Joshua.
However, reaching the top of amateur boxing does not guarantee success at the professional levels.
One man who knows that fact well is Tony Yoka (below).
Action Photos/Peter Cziborra
You can expect the Rio 2016 super-heavyweight Olympic champion to be front and center as the Games take place in his home country. Instead, 24 hours after the impressive spectacle in Paris, watched by millions; Yoka (11-3, 9 KOs) will be fighting in front of a few hundred people at the Tolworth Recreation Center.
A dramatic fall from grace for a man who made headlines in his home country from his debut, but three consecutive defeats have forced 'La Conquete' to rebuild.
While there is no shame in losing Martin Bakole, Carlos Takam, and Ryad Mehry, opponents of varying quality, expectations were high for the Frenchman.
The most recent of those results came under the tutelage of Don Charles. Although the coach often pays the price for not doing well, Yoka chose to persist with this seasoned coach, and moved to London.
Don Charles (Getty Images)
So, perhaps it's no surprise that the heavyweight is fighting on British shores, but it's surprising that he's appearing on a low-profile bill, promoted by Blvckbox Global.
So how did an Olympic gold medalist end up boxing as a hobby?
“I know his agent, and I know the coach, Don Charles, well,” explained Dean Whyte of Blvckbox Global. Debate News. “There are several Don Charles boys [the card] and it was inevitable.
“I visited Don in the house, I talked to him for a long time. Tony comes back, he's going to pull out the web, he's going to pass out and they're going to bring him back to the crowd. He's been out for a while and he's coming off three straight losses, but those are respectable names he hasn't fought.
“[Yoka’s team] they had high hopes for him and wanted to dominate that and felt that connecting with Don Charles was the missing ingredient for his resurgence. “
As Whyte said, it has been seven months since the Frenchman last fought. Perhaps because of that, he's been matched up fairly well, taking on Amine Boucetta (8-15, 0 KOs).
Although the 32-year-old has victories over Christian Hammer and Johann Duhaupas, he has never been seen as worthy of the professional game as he is with the ateur code.
It is possible that Don Charles can guide Yoka to a higher level than he had previously achieved. Charles' stock has never been higher as he guided Daniel Dubois to the IBF heavyweight title.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 20: Daniel Dubois talks with his coach Don Charles during the 'Watch Day' Media Workout at the Press Arena on December 20, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
While the French Olympic gold medalist's boxing at the Tolworth resort is unusual, the timing of the kick adds to the uniqueness.
That same night, Joe Joyce fights Derek Chisora at the O2 Arena, across town. Yes, it was 'The Juggernaut' Yoka, arguably, defeated in Rio eight years ago. If another connection was needed, many of Chisora's best nights came when he was working with Charles.
Joyce herself is on the comeback trail, having suffered two defeats at the hands of Zhilei Zhang. Is the fact that both men fought in London on the same night just a coincidence, or is it possible that Yoka and Joyce will meet in the ring, in the future?
“The stars aligned,” Whyte said with a laugh, choosing to focus on the quality of the card as a whole, instead. “I'm glad we have such a name there. We make our own progress; great card, great entertainment for the fans and people coming, and it's going to be a great night. It's a pleasure to have him and I hope people appreciate him”
Whyte is determined to do things differently from other small hall promoters, focusing more on value for money through unconventional means.
“We want to grow boxing at the grassroots,” explains Whyte. “We've honed the talent we have and maybe we're looking to put it on other platforms or find our own TV partners. I'm in it for the long haul, we'll do our best.
“Sometimes, the shows in the small halls are exhausting, if you're going to support one guy, but we want to pay you your money. The weather is difficult and the cost of living is difficult, so we want to give people a good night with good music, good food, good fights.”
Only time will tell if both Yoka and Blvckbox Global will reach their lofty goals, but if nothing else, tonight's card promises to be exciting.
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