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Takam Beats Yoka In Paris, Azeez Wins European Title Via Stoppage – Report

Written by Kerr Ferguson on 11th March 2023.

Yoka Takam and Azeez Highlights

Carlos Takam outboxed Tony Yoka in Paris, France, leaving the Olympian with a tricky road ahead in his professional career.

You know what you get with Takam – a relentless work rate and wildly impressive output for a 42-year-old. A test for any heavyweight, and one that seven have passed. He delivered just that against Yoka, who struggled with his inside work and powerful flurries.

Yoka – the man who beat Joe Joyce via a wildly controversial split decision in the 2016 Olympics to win Gold – looked lost in the ring on more than a few occasions, not possessing the confidence once should as the main event attraction in a home fight.

Of course, he returned shots and found some success, but Takam always made sure to fire back with more. More accuracy, more energy, more success. Less negativity, which Yoka had in spades.

A cut on the left eye didn’t help things for the favourite, and he looked deflated after the ten rounds despite a half-hearted attempt to celebrate and claim the victory.

96-94 Yoka, 96-94 x2 for Takam. Closer than many would have had it, but the right winner nonetheless.

Yoka was handed his first professional defeat against Martin Bakole back in May of 2022. This was his chance to deal with it, and he failed to do so. Bakole, in studio, advised his former opponent to change his team.

Elsewhere on the card, Dan Azeez moved to 18-0 with 12 KOs and became the European Light Heavyweight Champion with a twelfth round stoppage over Thomas Faure. The British fan-favourite outworked the brave local fighter, and was heading to a decision win if he hadn’t managed to end things inside the distance.

He did though, with a huge right hand that had Faure out on his feet. Hands dropped and dazed, the local man was as good as on his back, and the referee did well to step in when he did to avoid further damage. Azeez – who has done things the right way by collecting the British, Commonwealth, and now European straps – is eyeing up world honours next.

Olympic Gold Medalist, Lauren Price, took her first eight-rounder in style, winning every round on all three judges’ scorecards against Naomi Mannes, moving to 3-0 as a pro.

Macaulay McGowan was screwed by the judges in his contest with Farrhad Saad in an eight-rounder at middleweight. The Brit was denied a well-deserved win and instead holds a rotten majority draw on his record, with the frenchman taking it 77-75 on one card and the other two being scored 76-76.

Saad has no choice but to go all out in the final rounds, and he had some success, but it was too little too late – or should have been – against a tricky and zoned-in McGowan. Shame.