Lawrence Okolie is to fight French Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka at the Adidas Arena in Paris, France on April 25.
The Englishman – like Yoka, 33 years old – who in December stopped Ebenezer Tetteh in two rounds, enter his biggest test in his fourth fight as a heavyweight. Paris’ Yoka, meanwhile, is continuing his attempts to rebuild after recording four successive victories off the back of a damaging run of three straight defeats.
Bakary Samake, the junior middleweight from Paris, will by then have fought the US-based Albanian Ermal Hadribeaj in a WBC title eliminator on the undercard.
“I am thrilled to be extending our reach to the French capital,” said Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions, who will be co-promoting alongside Samake Promotion. “As in Britain and Germany, the passion for boxing in France runs deep.
“In Tony Yoka and Bakary Samake, we have two major stars capable of reigniting the sport in an important and historic boxing territory.
“There was immense pressure on Tony when he turned professional following his Olympic success, carrying the hopes of a nation on his shoulders. While he performed in sold-out arenas, perhaps the expectations came too soon. Now training in London, he returns as a revitalised, confident fighter, and his homecoming clash with Lawrence Okolie will be a cracker.
“Bakary, meanwhile, is in a final eliminator against a tough and experienced opponent in Ermal Hadribeaj. Victory would see another French star firmly established and help secure a bright future for boxing in France.”
