Queensberry Promotions has added another heavyweight to its growing talent pool, having signed 2016 Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka.
Yoka’s signing, which was announced on Wednesday, adds another big man to a roster that already boasts former titleholders Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker, plus top contender Agit Kabayel, Fabio Wardley and Zhilei Zhang.
Yoka, 14-3 (11 KOs), of Paris, was most recently in the ring in May, defeating previously unbeaten Russian prospect Arslan Yallyev by unanimous decision. The 33-year-old Yoka is currently on a three-fight winning streak, which was preceded by a rough three-fight period when he lost three straight fights – to Martin Bakole, Carlos Takam and Ryad Merhy, all by split or majority decision – between 2022 and 2023.
The news comes days after reports linked Yoka as a potential opponent for former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who is in the market for a tune-up bout before pursuing an all-British showdown next year with Fury.
There have also been reports of a potential rematch between Yoka and Joe Joyce, who faced off in the final of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
In addition to the series of defeats, Yoka’s career had been slowed by a 12-month suspension in 2018 for failing on three occasions to disclose his location for out-of-competition drug tests.
